Justification This bustard has a very small, declining population; a trend that has recently become extremely rapid and is predicted to continue in the near future, largely as a result of widespread and ongoing conversion of its grassland habitat for agriculture. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Otididae

Species name author (Gmelin, 1789)

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Synonyms Eupodotis bengalensis Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 66-68 cm. Mostly black bustard with largely white wings. In flight, wings entirely white except for black tips. Female and immature are buff-brown to sandy-rufous, and have buffish-white wing-coverts with fine, dark barring. Similar spp. Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica is smaller and longer-necked. Male has spatulate-tipped head plumes, white collar across upper mantle and white wing-coverts. Female has more prominent pale wing-coverts. Voice Croaks and strange, deep humming during display. Sometimes shrill metallic chik-chik-chik when disturbed. Hints Search grasslands during March-May when displaying males are most conspicuous.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

87,500 km²

No

Range & population Houbaropsis bengalensis has two disjunct populations, one in the Indian Subcontinent, the other in South-East Asia. The former occurs from Uttar Pradesh, India, through the terai of Nepal, to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India, and historically to Bangladesh. It has declined dramatically and only survives in small, highly fragmented populations (220-280 birds in India and up to 50 in Nepal). Declines have apparently continued in Nepal, even inside the protected Royal Chitwan National Park², but they may have stabilised in India¹. A 2007 estimate put the Nepalese population at just 28-36 mature individuals (restricted to a few widespread sites)⁶, down from 32-60 individuals in 2001⁴. The South-East Asian population occurs in Cambodia and may be extant in southern Vietnam. The Cambodian population has been estimated at between 368 and 1,480 birds (95% CI range based on surveys 2006-2007) with a mean estimate of approximately 900 individuals⁷, with perhaps as few as 294 adult males remaining⁹. More than 50% of this estimated population occurs on seasonally inundated grasslands within Kompong Thom province⁷. This estimate, based on available habitat in 2005, represents a rapid decline, owing to habitat loss, from a projected 3,000 individuals in 1997³. Given accelerating post-2005 grassland loss, 28% within 10 grassland blocks holding >75% of the estimated population⁷, projected rates of decline will equate to over 80% during a three generation period³. Were this decline to continue unchecked it is conceivable that the species may be extinct in the country by 2012³.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It inhabits lowland dry, or seasonally inundated, natural and semi-natural grasslands, often interspersed with scattered scrub or patchy open forest. Most Indian populations appear to be resident. In Cambodia it is known to make relatively local seasonal movements, in response to the flooding regime of the Tonle Sap lake: in the dry season, the species breeds in grasslands in the inundation zone of the lake; it then moves to nearby open forest areas during the wet season.

Threats The key threat is extensive loss and modification of grasslands through drainage, conversion to agriculture, overgrazing, inappropriate cutting and burning regimes and heavy flooding. In particular, the spread of dry season rice cultivation in Cambodia is rapidly converting existing grassland habitat. Excessive hunting for sport and food may have triggered its decline, and continues to be a serious threat, especially in Cambodia. At least in South Asia, most populations are small, isolated and vulnerable to local extirpation. Other threats may include human disturbance and trampling of nests by livestock. Detailed research into the species's ecology in Cambodia demonstrated weak effects of human disturbance, and that annual burning is important, supporting the idea that community-based grassland management maintaining traditional practices will benefit Bengal Floricans: this has implications for the species's maintenance in South Asia where remaining (and declining) populations are largely confined to strict protected areas where such practices may not be occurring⁸.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. Several populations occur within protected areas, the most important being Chitwan National Park, Royal Bardia National Park and Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal, Kaziranga, Dibru-Saikhowa and Dudwa National Parks, India. In South-East Asia a tiny population may still remain at Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam, and another at Ang Trapeang Thmor Sarus Crane Conservation Area, Cambodia. A PhD research project investigating movements and habitat requirements in the non-breeding season began in 2007 and a number of birds have been fitted with satellite or radio transmitters⁹. The Wildlife Conservation Society, BirdLife International and their government partners are currently engaged in a programme of conservation activities in the Tonle Sap floodplain of Cambodia, aimed at reducing habitat loss and hunting pressure on the species⁵. Recent achievements include the designation of over 350 km² of Bengal Florican habitat as 'Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas' (IFBAs)¹. Work is on-going to establish effective management structures for these areas and build constituencies of support for their conservation among local stakeholders. These activities appear to be having some early success in arresting the rapid decline of the species in Cambodia, but their long-term outcome remains to be seen. As part of the BirdLife International Preventing Extinctions Programme Species Guardian Seng Kim Hout is leading on implementing the following actions in Cambodia¹⁰: 1. Five IFBAs have been created by Provincial Declaration (Deikas), and two new IFBAs (Trea-sameaki and Toul Kruel- Panheum) have been agreed by the Kampong Thom provincial authorities, however one of the five existing IFBAs was removed from the IFBA network system by Kampong Thom IFBA provincial committee. 2. In Siem Reap Province an IFBA commission has been established. Official patrol teams are now operating in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap, and a monthly patrol reporting system is now in place. 3. An in-depth socio-economic study has been conducted by the Centre d'Etude et de Développement Agricole Cambodgien (CEDAC). The report highlights the economic benefits local communities derive through the traditional use of grasslands and will be used to build support among key decision makers and local communities. 4. An IFBA awareness programme covering 71 villages and over 3,200 people is underway. A series of meetings has been held explaining IFBAs, the Provincial Declaration (Deika), and other relevant laws, such as the Land, Forest and Fisheries laws. Five thousand exercise books containing information on the Bengal Florican and IFBAs have been produced and will be distributed to children and young adults at future meetings.

Conservation measures proposed Research on understanding Bengal Florican breeding productivity and habitat utilisation. Development of monitoring protocols for florican densities, habitat extent and human use in the proposed Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas (IFBAs). IFBA and protected area management regime design and management planning including appropriate rotational burning, grazing and cutting. Advocate support for IFBA conservation and promote grassland conservation awareness initiatives in all range countries. Continue surveys for populations, particularly in Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat provinces, Cambodia, and Koshi Tappu and Koshi Barrage Wildlife Reserves, Nepal⁶. Monitor known populations. Manage grasslands using a prescribed burning regime, limiting grazing pressure and preventing scrub encroachment as well as keeping human disturbance and hunting pressure to a minimum where possible⁶. Train park staff in protected areas to monitor the population, educate local people and manage the grassland ecosystem⁶. Extend, upgrade and link protected areas in India and Nepal, and establish new ones. Devise and promote a conservation strategy for all bustards in India.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. Rahmani (2001). 2. Baral et al. (2003). 3. T. Gray, T. Evans and Hong Chamnan in litt. (2006). 4. S. Hogberg in litt. (2006). 5. A. W. Tordoff in litt. (2007). 6. Poudyal (2007). 7. Gray et al. (in prep). 8. Gray et al. (2007). 9. Packman (2008). 10. BirdLife International (2009).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Species Guardian Action Update November 2008

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International), Pete Davidson (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Contributors Hong Chamnan (Wildlife Conservation Society), Tom Evans (Wildlife Conservation Society), Tom Gray (University of East Anglia), Sebastien Hogberg, A. W. Tordoff (BirdLife International in Indochina)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Houbaropsis bengalensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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