National Endangered Species Day: Birds and animals in Odisha that next generation may not be able to see

The world is filled with endangered species of animals, many of which can be found in Odisha. While some of these species are critically endangered, some are near threatened while some are even extinct.

There are some species that are left in such a few numbers that the next generation may not be able to ever see them if nothing is done for their conservation. 

Here is a list of some endangered animals that could be found in different parts of Odisha:

Forest owl:

Forest owl is found in some parts of Odisha. The bird has an interesting history. It lost more than a century ago. Not finding it for decades, a prominent ornithologist in India Salim Ali made a public appeal to look for the bird. After 113 years, the owl was rediscovered in 1997 and appeared on the list of Indian birds. These birds generally live in dry deciduous forest. Cutting down, burning and pruning of trees cause damage to the forest owls and their nests.

Spoon billed sandpiper:

Along with West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, theses birds are found in Odisha also. The bird requires highly specialized breeding habitat, a constraint that has always kept its population scarce. Odisha is home to some of the last existing wintering grounds of this species. The main threats to them are habitat degradation, land reclamation and human disturbance.

Royal Bengal Tiger:

Royal Bengal tiger is a Panthera tigris population in the Indian subcontinent. It is also found in Odisha. However, it is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2008. In 2018 estimation, the State’s tiger count stood at 28, unchanged since 2014. It is threatened by poaching, loss and fragmentation of habitat.

Black buck:

The local Odia names of black buck are krushnasar mirga, bali harina or kala bahutia. Blackbucks are confined to Balukhand-Konark coastal plain, wildlife sanctuary in Puri District, Balipadar-Bhetnoi and adjacent areas in Ganjam District. In Odisha, the estimated population of Blackbuck is about 800 to 900. Blackbuck numbers are declining sharply due to excessive hunting, deforestation and habitat degradation. Hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Hawksbill turtle:

It is a heavily exploited species. The species is migratory in nature and nesting occurs in about 70 countries across the world including Odisha. Maturation of the species is slow and is estimated between 25-40 years. In India, they are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the coast of Tamil Nadu and Odisha. The main threats to the species are turtle shell trade, egg collection, slaughter for meat, water pollution, destruction of nesting and foraging habitats.

Gharial:

Gharial is one of the endangered species which is found in Odisha. The dire condition of the gharial reflects the tragedy of our rivers. The main threats to gharials are the combined effects of dams, barrages, artificial embankments, change in river course, pollution and sand-mining.

Irrawaddy dolphins:

Irrawaddy dolphins are found in Chilika lake in Odisha. Although not necessarily facing extinction in the immediate future, specific populations of bottlenose dolphins are threatened due to human impact including illegal hunting, a shortage of food due to over-fishing, fishing nets and marine pollution.

Pangolin:

Odisha is believed to be one of the last strongholds of pangolin which is known as the most trafficked mammal in the world. These little guardians have survived thousands of years of natural changes, but now they are on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and illegal poaching. 

Elephants:

Elephants in Odisha face an uncertain and dangerous future and are almost at the brink of extinction. Once the pride of Odisha, elephants now see the State as a graveyard. As per the wildlife experts, the alleged nexus between the  poachers and forest officials has turned the State into a graveyard for elephants.  The safety of our national heritage animal in Odisha is in peril. 

In 2021-22, Odisha lost as many as 74 elephants due to different reasons. In an average, 33 elephants died during 1990-2000. However, the numbers almost doubled to 64 in 2001-2010. Things became worse thereafter as at least 946 elephants died from 2010-2022. In Odisha, elephants are mainly threatened by habitat loss, poaching and accelerating levels of human–elephant conflict. Electrocution by domestic electric power lines is also causing deaths.