Manipur: Rare migratory bird returns to Loktak Lake after 40 years

Manipur wildlife conservationists celebrated a significant ecological breakthrough as the Tufted Pochard, a rare waterbird, has returned to Loktak Lake after an absence of nearly four decades.

 

The Loktak Development Authority (LDA) announced the bird's comeback on December 9, highlighting the lake's critical role as a sanctuary for migratory birds. The lake, a Ramsar site located in the Central Asian and East Asian-Australasian Flyways, has become a vital refuge for diverse bird species.

 

LDA Chairman M Asnikumar Singh emphasised the significance of the Tufted Pochard's return. "This is more than a conservation victory," he stated. "It's a celebration of our shared responsibility to protect delicate ecosystems."

 

The lake now hosts an impressive array of migratory birds, including Red-crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Ferruginous Pochard, Lesser Whistling Duck, Northern Shoveller, Mandarin Duck, Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacanas.

 

Conservation groups like People for Animal, Unique Wildlife Protection Committee, and Sangai Protection Forum have been instrumental in protecting these critical habitats.

 

Singh urged local fishing communities to prevent illegal hunting and protect nesting areas, emphasising that these migratory birds are crucial indicators of the lake's ecological health.