Kathmandu: The golden cannon bird, one of the world’s rarest species and listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, is facing a critical threat to its survival. Found only in Nepal and India, the bird has been classified as Critically Endangered in Nepal, with an estimated population of just around 100 individuals remaining.
The species’ presence in Shuklaphanta National Park was first recorded in 1996 by ornithologist Dr. Hemsagar Baral, who spotted 11 individuals during his PhD research. More than a decade later, in 2008, Dr. Baral discovered nesting sites of the golden cannon bird near Sikari Lake. Since then, conservationists have tracked a sharp decline in its numbers.
According to the Bird Conservation Society Nepal (BCN), golden cannon birds are alarmingly scarce in both Nepal and India. In Nepal, they are confined to the Terai belt, where their survival is increasingly threatened.
Nepal is home to four species of cannon birds—the black-chested, striped, baya, and golden. Among them, the golden cannon bird is the most vulnerable. Ornithologists warn that habitat destruction, human encroachment, and the widespread use of chemical pesticides in agriculture are the primary factors pushing the species toward extinction.
Conservationists emphasize that urgent action is needed to protect the golden cannon bird’s natural habitats and ensure its survival for future generations.
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