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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2005 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
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus	LC	resident (1989)	common	A3
Swamp Francolin Ortygornis gularis	NT	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A3
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter (2002)	uncommon	A1
Yellow-footed Green-pigeon Treron phoenicopterus	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus	LC	resident (1989)	rare	A3
Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Sarus Crane Grus antigone	VU	resident (1997)	1 pairs	A1
Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis	CR	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A3
Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus	CR	non-breeding (2002)	rare	A1
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus	NT	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A4i
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala	LC	resident (2002)	uncommon	A1, A4i
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	NT	resident (2002)	rare	A1, A4i
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster	LC	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A4i
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda	EN	non-breeding (2004)	rare	A1, A4i
Dusky Eagle-owl Bubo coromandus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus	CR	non-breeding (2004)	uncommon	A1
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis	CR	resident (2002)	uncommon	A1, A3
Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris	CR	resident (2002)	uncommon	A1, A3
Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata	VU	unknown (2004)	rare	A1
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter (2002)	uncommon	A1
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus	NT	winter (2002)	uncommon	A1
Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus	EN	resident (2004)	rare	A1
Lesser Fish-eagle Icthyophaga humilis	NT	non-breeding (2002)	rare	A1
Grey-headed Fish-eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus	NT	resident (2002)	frequent	A1
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa	LC	resident (2000)	frequent	A3
Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Leiopicus mahrattensis	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	winter (2002)	uncommon	A1
Plum-headed Parakeet Himalayapsitta cyanocephala	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens	LC	resident (1989)	common	A3
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix griseus	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Bengal Bushlark Mirafra assamica	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Sand Lark Alaudala raytal	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Bristled Grassbird Schoenicola striatus	VU	breeding (2002)	frequent	A1, A3
Jerdon's Babbler Chrysomma altirostre	VU	resident (2002)	rare	A1, A3
Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Indian Grass-babbler Graminicola bengalensis	NT	resident (2002)	common	A1, A3
Striated Babbler Argya earlei	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Jungle Babbler Argya striata	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
White-throated Bushchat Saxicola insignis	VU	winter (2002)	frequent	A1
White-tailed Stonechat Saxicola leucurus	LC	resident (1989)	uncommon	A3
Black-breasted Weaver Ploceus benghalensis	LC	resident (1989)	frequent	A3
Finn's Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus	EN	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A3
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola	CR	winter (2004)	frequent	A1

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2005. The most recent assessment (2011) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis	8 / 13 (birds)	62	poor

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70–90%)	poor (40–69%)	very poor
Forest	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor
Grassland	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1976	Suklaphanta	वन्यजन्तु आरक्ष (IV)	100
2004	Suklaphanta - Buffer Zone	मध्यवर्ती क्षेत्र (VI)	37

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	-
Forest	-
Grassland	-
Wetlands (inland)	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve (Nepal). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sukla-phanta-wildlife-reserve-iba-nepal on 22/12/2024.