Status of Wetland Birds in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Chitwan National Park, Nepal, hosts a diverse wetland bird population, with 36 species recorded during a 2014 study. Among these, 15 were winter migratory birds and 21 were residents, highlighting the park's ecological significance as a critical habitat for both local and migratory avifauna. The Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) emerged as the most abundant species, predominantly found in river confluences and shaded forest areas. However, the study revealed alarming declines in wetland bird populations due to anthropogenic pressures such as sand mining, habitat loss, overfishing, livestock grazing, poisoning, water pollution, tourist pressure, and invasive species proliferation. These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation measures to mitigate human-induced threats to this biodiversity hotspot.

Jha, P. K., & Sharma, C. K. (2018). Status of Wetland Birds in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Tribhuvan University Journal, 32(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.3126/tuj.v32i1.24760