Meet the Lesser Florican, also known as Likh or Kharmore, the tiniest member of the bustard family and the only one in the Sypheotides genus. These unique birds call the Indian Subcontinent home, particularly thriving in tall grasslands. What makes them stand out is the males’ captivating breeding displays during the monsoon season. You can spot the males with their long head feathers extending behind the neck and their stunning black and white mating plumage.
About Lesser Florican (Sypheotides Indicus)
- It is one of three bustard species endemic to India, the others being the Bengal florican and the Great Indian Bustard.
- Less than 270 lesser floricans are estimated to be alive in the wild.
- In the local language, the bird is known as ‘tanmor’ on ‘kharmor’, derived from the root word ‘mor’ for peacock.
- The bird is listed as “critically endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species and its population has been identified as “decreasing”.
- It also features in Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which “includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.”
- It is also protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act. The endangered bird is observed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and some other regions during the monsoon season, when it breeds and later disappears with its chicks to unknown places.
What are the Issues with their Conservations?
- Forests in India are receiving better protection, but unfortunately, grasslands aren’t getting the attention they deserve in terms of ecological value.
- In Maharashtra, the habitat of grasslands is under threat primarily because of the expanding industries in these areas.
- Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are facing challenges as renewable energy projects are being set up on their grasslands, disrupting the mating grounds of birds.
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