Justification This stork is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small population which is rapidly declining, in particular as a result of hunting pressure.

Family/Sub-family Ciconiidae

Species name author (Horsfield, 1821)

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

Identification 122-129 cm. Very large stork, dark grey-black above, white below, with naked head and neck. Non-breeders have mostly yellowish head and neck skin with vinous-tinged head sides and contrastingly pale forehead. Breeding males show coppery spots on median coverts, narrow whitish edges to lower scapulars, tertials and inner greater coverts and redder head sides. Juvenile is duller and less glossy above, with more down on head and neck. Similar spp. Greater Adjutant L. dubius has more massive bill, paler head sides, pendulous neck-pouch, pale grey greater coverts and tertials.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

6,500 - 8,000

decreasing

802,000 km²

No

Range & population Leptoptilos javanicus has an extensive range across South and South-East Asia. Substantial populations remain only in India (mostly in Assam, with c.2,000 birds¹, West Bengal and Bihar where 42 nests confirmed breeding in 2004⁷), Indonesia (c.2,000 in 1993, the majority on Sumatra) and Cambodia (1000 individuals or >300 pairs⁹). Smaller breeding populations (<200 pairs) occur in Nepal (in 2003 c.50 birds were recorded in Royal Chitwan National Park: the national population was recently estimated at c.300 individuals following surveys in east, central and western Nepal^3,8), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia (c.500 individuals¹¹), Brunei, Vietnam and Thailand. It has been recorded in Bhutan² but is thought to be extinct in China and in Singapore. Formerly common and widespread, it has declined dramatically across its range and has been extirpated from many areas in recent decades owing to persistent un-regulated harvesting of eggs and chicks at nesting colonies. However, some populations at least seem to be relatively stable, e.g. numbers in the Matang Mangrove Forest, Malaysia have remained relatively constant for 20 years¹². The current population estimate is 5,000 birds, however, an increase in survey effort across much of the region has revised many national totals upwards. A recent analysis of Cambodian records estimated a national population of c.1,870 pairs¹⁰; precautionary interpretation of this figure suggests the previous national estimate of 1,000 individuals should be revised upwards considerably to 2,500-4,000 individuals. Therefore, overall the global population may be considerably larger than previous estimates.

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

Ecology: Inland, birds inhabit natural and man-modified wetlands, both open and forested. Coastal populations frequent mangroves and intertidal flats. It nests colonially in large trees, and historically on cliffs, often at traditional sites in or adjacent to wetlands. It utilises small wetlands within Asian dry forest, and can breed some distance from these; shrinking of pools during the dry season and limited availability can lead to overlap with human uses and resulting disturbance.

Threats Several threats are contributing to its decline, with their relative importance varying across its range. The loss of nest-sites through the felling of colony nest trees is a major threat, particularly in Assam. In many areas, drainage and conversion of wetland feeding areas, agricultural intensification, increased pesticide use and disturbance, and hunting and collection of eggs, chicks and adults are major threats. Coastal populations are threatened by large-scale development, including aquaculture and the clearance of mangroves. A recent, and very serious threat, recorded in Nepal and Cambodia is the practice of poisoning pools to catch fish, which leads to incidental mortality of this species^5,6.

Conservation measures underway Important nesting colonies are found in Kaziranga and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks and Lawkhowa and D'Ering Wildlife Sanctuaries, Assam. In Cambodia, the breeding colonies at Prek Toal and Moat Khla/Boeng Chhma are core areas in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. Between 1997-1999, enforcement of regulations at Prek Toal appears to have reduced exploitation of breeding colonies. It is included in conservation awareness material in Laos and Cambodia. In parts of Cambodia financial incentives have been offered to local residents by conservation organisations if nesting attempts at known waterbird colonies are not disrupted⁴. The species was the focus of recent studies in Nepal which estimated the national population size and threats, as well as making a number of conservation recommendations^3,5. It was also revealed that the majority of breeding Lesser Adjutant that breed in Nepal do so outside of protected areas³. Recent initiatives in Assam include nest surveys, a nest-tree replanting scheme and conservation awareness campaigns.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor key colonies, and conduct searches for others. Protect nesting colonies outside protected areas. Promote control of pesticide use around feeding areas. Establish a wildlife protection office at Tonle Sap lake. Investigate alternative livelihoods for people dependent on harvesting eggs and chicks. Draft and enforce laws prohibiting hunting, trapping and poisoning. Expand conservation awareness programmes. Research the species use of and dependence upon agricultural landscapes including rice paddies³. List the species in Nepal under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act^3,5. Protect key sites in Nepal.

References Birdlife International (2001). 1. Choudhury (2000). 2. Choudhary (2005). 3. Baral (2005). 4. T. Evans in litt. (2006). 5. Gyawali (2004). 6. S. Browne in litt. (2005). 7. Mishra et al. (2004). 8. Sharma (2006). 9. T. Clements in litt. (2006). 10. Bird et al. (2007). 11. Li et al. (2007). 12. Li et al. (2006).

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

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Pete Davidson (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Contributors Stephen Browne (Game Conservancy Trust), Tom Clements, Tom Evans (Wildlife Conservation Society)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Leptoptilos javanicus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

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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