Guwahati: The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) recently conducted the 2025 Asian Water Bird Census in collaboration with Aranyak and the Assam Bird Monitoring Network.
This significant event saw the participation of 12 enumeration teams, comprising around 22 experts, including the renowned naturalist and ornithologist Dr. Anuwaruddin Choudhary.
The teams, which hailed from various parts of Assam and the Mayong area, carried out the census across nine water bodies and beels within the sanctuary.
The exercise was officially launched at 9 am by Ashok Dev Choudhary, the In-Charge Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Guwahati Wildlife Division, alongside Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Puspadhar Buragohain, AFS, and the range officers from both the Guwahati Wildlife Division and Kamrup East Division.
Over the next two hours, the teams worked diligently to document the water bird population in Pobitora.
Preliminary observations suggest that the sanctuary could host over 10,000 water birds during this census.
However, the final species count and individual bird tally will be officially announced by the Pobitora WLS authorities once all the data has been compiled and analysed.
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Among the notable migratory bird species observed during the survey were the Baikal Teal, Tufted Duck, Greater White-fronted Goose, Falcated Duck, Bar-headed Goose, Grey Lag Goose, Northern Pintail, Pied Avocet, and Northern Shoveler, all of which are key species tracked during the census for conservation purposes.
The ongoing census is an important part of the larger international effort to monitor the status and migratory patterns of waterfowl across Asia.
It provides crucial data for conservationists and environmentalists, helping shape future efforts to protect and conserve these vital species and their habitats in Assam.
