G.A.Stork's dwindling population worries conservationist Guwahati : The latest count of the Greater Adjutant Stork population , popularly called hargilla in the city , has shown a decline within a span of twelve months this year. The population of Greater Adjutant Stork was 188 in 2002, 207 in 2003, 233 in 2004 247 in 2005and 167 in 2006
However the latest population count on 3rd November this year showed a further decline to 118 sending alarm bells ringing among wild life activist and NGOs working for the conservation of the winged species in the city. The population of this particular avian species in the world is estimated to be around 1,000 and the Brahmaputra valley alone accounts for 700 plus Greater Adjutant Stork. Early Birds ,a city based wild life NGO , which conducted the census on the Greater Adjutant stork found that the roosting places in the city had been almost wiped out due to rapid urbanization. Majority of the nests of the Greater Adjutant Storks are located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra , particularly in areas like Mandakata , Suptaguri in N.Guwahati & Dadara and Singimari on the Hazo road .In recent times, these areas have witnessed rampant felling of trees mainly due to fragmentation of families . Tall trees in these areas once served as ideal places for building nests. In 2006 only 11 nests were found in 5 trees at Rangmahal and 5 nests in 2 trees at Mandakata. The same area had more than 50 nests till 1990-91. Wildlife experts also pointed out that with the wetlands in and around the city being filled up for construction activities , the Greater Adjutant Storks are being robbed of the feeding ground for chicks. As a case in point the roosting ground behind the Ulubari market complex is almost filled up by the State Transport Corporation which had allowed a few ex. Employees to settle there. Local people from Ulubari area had earlier demanded of the D.C (Metro)through a signature campaign to evict the encroachers and make it a garden with tall trees. Efforts by Early Birds and the State Forest department to plant suitable trees for hargilla had gone in vain as all saplings were uprooted by the miscreants. The Early Birds also demanded to the district administration to declare the area as reserve wetland on various occasion earlier so that protection can be assured. The Early Birds had planted a few simul trees at both the Muslim graveyard and at girls polytechnic which are showing good results. It is worth mentioning here that many foreign tourist visits the Ulubari wetland along with the Gandhi Mandap ,Kasturba Ashram and the Isscon temple standing nearby. Those who participated in the current census are shri Moloy Baruah, Gautam Choudhury, Sheikh Noor Zaman, Naba Talukdar,SajibDas and PulakashTalukdar. Moloy Baruah
