White-Bellied Heron

A Heron on the Brink of Extinction

The endangered White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) is found in the eastern Himalayan foothills in Bhutan and northeast India up to the hills of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Due to the heron's position in the evolutionary Tree of Life and the acute population decrease, the White-bellied Heron is one of the 100 most important EDGE species (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered).

This project in the far north-east of India aims to improve the ongoing research by studying seasonality, occurrence and distribution patterns and discover new nesting sites. The project is being implemented by Samiran Patgiri, a scientist from Mizoram University. He is particularly experienced in accessing the remote habitats of the White-bellied Heron and thus collects important data on the population in India.

Awareness programs are also being conducted to create awareness about this endangered species. It is particularly important to involve the local communities, as the species is occasionally found close to human settlements.

The overall aim is to contribute to the research on the ecology and population dynamics of the species in order to secure a sustainable future for the White-bellied Heron in South Asia.