Self-sustaining Biodiversity Conservation through Tribal Livelihoods in Arunachal Pradesh
Ramana Athreya, IISER Pune
Bugun Liocichla
The spectacular Bugun Liocichla was first seen by Ramana in 1995.
It was again seen in 2005 and
scientifically described (only) in 2006.
It is the first bird species discovered and described by an Indian.
Its entire global range is limited to the few km2 of the Bugun community forest apart from sporadic records a little farther away inside Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary.
BirdLife International and Bombay Natural History Society described it as the most sensational ornithological discovery in India in half a century . It was reported by 100+ news sites world-wide.
The Prime Minister of India released a postage stamp featuring the bird in 2012, at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity attended by delegates and ministers from 194 countries.
That a bird as colourful and as distinctive as this remained unknown to scientists until this century is testimony to the fact that much remains to be explored and understood in that remarkable region.
Indeed since the start of our project in 2003 several new species have been discovered in the area including a frog (Leptobrachium bompu: below-left) and two pit vipers (Trimeresurus arunachalensis: below-right; Trimeresurus salazar: bottom row).
The number of moths and such other fauna waiting to be described is anybody's guess.
31 August 2023, Ramana Athreya
