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Site description (2004 baseline):

This wetland in southern Assam’s Hailakandi district is located near Hailakandi town and is surrounded by villages. In winter, large parts become dry with marshy areas on the fringes. Although reclamation and siltation have reduced the area, it is more than 150 ha in monsoon and around 70 ha in the post-monsoon season (Choudhury 2000). Bauwwa Beel is relatively small but remains as significant in the Barak Valley region of the state as many others have been lost to land reclamation.

AVIFAUNA: More than 90 species have been identified but there are likely to be more. The Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus is seen regularly, but in small numbers. The Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis is very rare in the entire Barak Valley. One was killed by hunters in 2002-03, indicating its occasional appearance in the site. The Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis has become locally extinct. A few Oriental White-backed Gyps bengalensis have been recorded in recent years. The only recent records of the Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria and Eastern or Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris in Assam were from this IBA (Choudhury 2000).

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Small Indian Mongoose Harpactes javanicus, and various turtles have been reported.

MAIN THREATS: Land reclamation and paddy cultivation; Siltation; Over-fishing; Poaching of birds.

Reclamation for cultivation and siltation has already reduced the size of the wetland to a great extent. Over-fishing is the other major conservation issue. Charaching of waterbirds is a regular problem.

Key contributors: Anwaruddin Choudhury and Abdul Munim Mazumdar.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bauwwa Beel (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bauwwa-beel-iba-india on 22/11/2024.