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Site description (2004 baseline):

Danapur Cantonment is under the jurisdiction of the Indian army so it is protected from general human disturbance. Danapur is located about 6 km from the course of the River Ganga. It is proposed as Sainik Pakshi Vihar meaning Army Bird Area. It is considered as an IBA because more than 10,000 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans breed here. The birds rest and nest in the Army campus, their residential colonies and official establishments. In the adjacent land, there are some waterlogged areas which are cultivated. Birds use these areas as feeding ground. Important trees found at the site are Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, F. bengalensis, F. glomerata, Acacia nilotica, Syzygium cumini, Tamarindus indica, Acanthocephalus indicus and Dalbergia sissoo.

AVIFAUNA: The area is a permanent nesting site for over 11,000 Asian Openbill. The nesting colony is not shared with other bird species, as in other sites. The South Asian breeding population of the Asian Openbill is calculated as >125,000 (Wetlands International 2002) and the 1% threshold is 1,250, which means that at this IBA site, nearly 9% of the breeding population of the Asian Openbill is found. The globally threatened Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni is also reported from the area (Arvind Mishra pers. comm. 2003). Other birds seen are cormorants, egrets, bulbuls, owls, and raptors. Though the birds are nesting in increasing numbers here, tree felling has restricted them to around 11,000.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: No large mammal of any significance is found in the area.

MAIN THREATS: Cutting of nesting trees; Poaching of birds in their feeding grounds in the adjacent areas.

The area remains well protected as it is under the jurisdiction of the Indian army. Felling of nesting trees has, however, reduced the number of Asian Openbill Stork nesting in the area. The Society for Conservation of Flora and Fauna, Patna, Bihar has recommended that felling of trees be stopped and more trees be planted to increase the size of the nesting colony. At present the military personnel, the Society for Conservation of Flora and Fauna, and some other concerned citizens are interested in the conservation birds. They have undertaken tree plantation activities and raising general awareness.

Key contributors: Society for Conservation of Flora and Fauna (Patna), Arvind Mishra, Mandar Nature Club.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Danapur cantonment area (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/danapur-cantonment-area-iba-india on 25/12/2024.