Kerala Government declares June 22 as 'Snake Bird Day'
Kerala Government has declared June 22 as ‘Snake Bird Day’ in a bid to protect the endangered species which is also known as Indian darter.
The formal announcement was made by State minister for forest Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan at a function organised by Snake Bird Foundation in Thiruvananthapuram.
About Snake Bird
- It is water bird which is also known as Indian darter (Anhinga melanogaster).
- It has slender long-neck which is mostly black in colour with silver wing markings.
- Conservation Status: As per IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Snake Bird is classified as Near Threatened species.
- Threat: Its population is moderately declining owing anthropogenic reasons like pollution, drainage, hunting and the collection of eggs and nestlings.
- Found in: Tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. It inhabits in shallow inland wetlands including rivers, lakes, swamps and reservoirs.
- In case of India there are over 1500 snake birds in which majority are found in Kerala.
- These species usually nests atop tall trees near wetlands. They are largely found in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Wayanad Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala.
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Month: Current Affairs - June, 2015