The white-winged wood duck, Assam’s state bird, is facing an alarming decline in numbers and is now on the brink of extinction, conservationists and wildlife experts have warned.
Also known locally as Deo Hah, the bird was once found across several forested wetlands and riverine areas of eastern Assam. However, its presence has now been reduced to a few fragmented habitats, primarily within protected areas such as Dihing-Patkai National Park and Nameri Tiger Reserve.
Experts attribute the decline mainly to habitat loss and fragmentation, caused by deforestation, expansion of agriculture, industrial activities and infrastructure development. Increased human disturbance and occasional hunting have further worsened the situation for the shy and elusive species, which depends on dense forest wetlands and slow-moving streams for survival.
Wildlife researchers estimate that only a few hundred individuals of the species survive globally, with India’s population largely confined to Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Despite its critically endangered status and symbolic importance as the state bird, awareness about its plight remains limited, conservationists noted.
Environmentalists have stressed the need for urgent conservation measures, including systematic population surveys, habitat restoration, stricter protection of remaining wetlands and greater involvement of local communities. They have also urged the state government to adopt focused conservation programmes similar to those implemented for other threatened species in the region.
Unless immediate steps are taken, experts warn that the white-winged wood duck could disappear from Assam’s forests, marking a significant loss to the state’s natural heritage.
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