<b>A new critical habitat for conservation of the White-bellied Heron <I>Ardea insignis</I> Hume, 1878 (Aves: Ardeidae) from Bhutan</b>

Abstract

The White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to its extremely small and rapidly dwindling population. Bhutan is home to the highest number of White-bellied Heron and the species is distributed patchily across 11 different sites in central and south-west Bhutan. In this note, we present the first evidence of the species in eastern Bhutan, on the Drangmechhu River in Trashi Yangtse district. The finding extends the distribution of the species in Bhutan and recognizes one more potentially critical habitat for immediate conservation attention. As elsewhere, the new site is found to be primarily threatened by hydropower development. The need for conservation initiatives for the species is immediate and highly recommended.

Assessing the effectiveness of a protected area network: a case study of Bhutan

“…There are also > 760 bird species, of which 18 are globally threatened. Bhutan holds almost half the global population of the white-bellied heron Ardea insignis (Wangdi et al, 2017). The country also has > 5,600 flowering plant species, including nearly 300 that are used as medicines (Banerjee & Bandopadhyay, 2016).…”

Assessing the Status of the Critically Endangered White-bellied HeronArdea insignisin north-east India

“…Habitat loss, forest fires, hydroelectric projects, and hunting are some of the threats faced by the White-bellied Heron across its current range (Stanley Price and Goodman 2015). Bhutan presently holds the largest known population (25-35 individuals) (Wangdi et al 2017). However, even in Bhutan, there have been occasional reports of heron deaths, due to herons landing on live pole-tops and being electrocuted, and probable local extirpation from Sunkosh Valley due to hydroelectric projects (BirdLife International 2017).…”