IN310
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2004 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year[s] of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri CR winter (2004) present A1
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus NT resident (2004) present A1
Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis NT resident (2004) present A1
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter (2004) present A4i
Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis EN non-breeding (2004) present A1
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis CR non-breeding (2004) present A1
Indian Vulture Gyps indicus CR non-breeding (2004) present A1
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga VU winter (2004) present A1
Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus EN resident (2004) present A1
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni LC passage (2004) present A1

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2004) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2004. The most recent assessment (2003) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2003 not assessed high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Biological resource use happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (category) % coverage of IBA
1975 Bhitarkanika Sanctuary (IV) 64
1998 Bhitarkanika National Park (II) 18

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest -
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Marine Intertidal -

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bhitarkanika-wildlife-sanctuary-and-national-park-iba-india on 03/12/2024.