7 months ago
Assam's State Bird Faces Extinction Crisis
The white-winged wood duck, also known as Deo Hah, is Assam's state bird.
It is a large, shy bird with white wings and a brown body.
It lives in quiet freshwater pools inside dense forests.
Unfortunately, this bird is in big trouble.
Many years ago, it was common in Assam's forests, but now it is very hard to find.
The main reasons are that people are cutting down trees, destroying wetlands, and building things in the forests.
There are also oil rigs that disturb the bird's home.
Experts are worried because they don't know how many of these ducks are left.
They believe the duck lives in only two protected areas now.
The bird needs urgent help to survive, and people need to know more about it to protect it.
The white-winged wood duck, Assam's state bird, is critically endangered and facing extinction.
The duck's population has declined dramatically due to deforestation, wetland loss, and habitat fragmentation.
It is believed to survive only in two protected areas: Dihing-Patkai National Park and Nameri Tiger Reserve.
Oil exploration and associated disturbances in Dihing-Patkai are concerning conservationists.
There is a lack of public awareness and comprehensive population surveys for the species.
- Who
- White-winged Wood Duck (Deo Hah), conservationists, biologists, local nature enthusiasts
- What
- The white-winged wood duck is facing extinction due to habitat loss and human interference
- Where
- Assam, India, specifically in Dihing-Patkai National Park and Nameri Tiger Reserve
- When
- The decline has been observed roughly between 1997 and 2023
- Why
- Due to deforestation, wetland loss, habitat fragmentation, human interference, and oil exploration
Key facts
- Scientific Name
- Asarcornis scutulata
- Local Name
- Deo Hah
- Conservation Status
- Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- Known Habitats
- Dihing-Patkai National Park, Nameri Tiger Reserve
- Threats
- Deforestation, Wetland Loss, Habitat Fragmentation, Human Interference, Oil Exploration
- Population Status
- Unknown, believed to be very low
- Last Recorded Range
- Upper Assam in the 1990s
Quotes
Aftab Ahmed
Biologist with the Wildlife Trust of India
“The white-winged wood duck is facing extinction threat due to multiple factors. At present, it is believed to survive only in Dihing-Patkai and Nameri, but the actual population size is unknown. What is more worrying is the lack of public awareness. Many people don’t even know this is Assam’s State bird.”
assamtribune.com
Devojit Moran
Local nature enthusiast
“There are several oil rigs in the Dihing-Patkai landscape, and habitat disturbance is visible in many places. I urge the government and Oil India Limited to ensure that the habitat of this rare duck is not disturbed.”
assamtribune.com





