Data Zone
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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swamp Francolin Ortygornis gularis | NT | resident (2002) | present | A1 |
| Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis | CR | resident (2004) | present | A1 |
| Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus | NT | resident (2002) | present | A1 |
| White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis | CR | non-breeding (2004) | present | A1 |
| Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris | CR | non-breeding (2004) | present | A1 |
| Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis | VU | resident (2004) | present | A1, A3 |
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | LC | passage (2002) | present | A1 |
| Black-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis flavirostris | VU | resident (2002) | present | A1, A2 |
| Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra | NT | resident (2002) | present | A1, A2 |
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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | low |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in short term (within 4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Not assessed | Not assessed | Not assessed | not assessed |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Mahananda | Sanctuary (IV) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | |
| Grassland | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| military | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mahananda-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 16/01/2025.