Birds of Ganga River Basin

According to mythological belief birds are considered as vahan (vehicle) of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Vishnu, incarnation of ancestors and also symbol of love. The Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone) found in the Gangetic basin symbolizes love and long life. Garuda, Jatayu are some of the mythological birds that are mentioned in "Ramayana". It is also said that Sage Valmiki cursed a hunter who killed the Kraunch (Sarus), in one of the first verse that was ever written; and it was this verse that inspired Sage Valmiki to compose the epic "Ramayana". 

Being a mega-biodiversity country, Indian bird fauna is represented by 1301 species. The Gangetic basin supports 177 species of birds including wetland, riverine and terrestrial species. Some iconic and globally threatened birds breed along the River Ganga. Their life history strategies have developed upon hydrology of rivers and wetlands, physio-chemical characteristics of water, climate and food availability. These species are indicators of healthy river and wetland ecosystems. In present day these species are under stress and some of them are pushed to the brink by anthropogenic activities viz. hydrologic alteration through dams and barrages, loss of wetland habitats, use of harmful chemicals in agriculture, illegal poaching and trade.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga-Wildlife Institute of India project titled "Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation" is a science-based species restoration programme, aiming at conservation of these breeding birds of Ganga River.

The conservation status of the species are referred here as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices and Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (IWPA), 1972 Schedules.

Aquatic Species/ Birds