An endangered species of birds, the Indian Skimmer, has been spotted along the Ghaghra River at the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve by a volunteer at the Habitats Trust.
Ghaghra, a sanctuary for numerous threatened species, is one of the last strongholds for the critically endangered, gharial and Gangetic dolphin in Uttar Pradesh.
The sighting occurred 5 kms upstream of the Zalim Nagar Bridge on Ghaghra, within the Dhauraha range in the Dudhwa buffer zone.
This indicates the importance of Ghaghra River in Bahraich district as a vital habitat for the end angered Indian Skimmer, suggesting possibility of more inhabiting the upstream areas.
Indian Skimmer is an unusual looking bird with a striking red-orange beak, the lower bill longer than the upper. It feeds by opening its mouth and skimming the top of river water with its lower bill for fish, larvae and shrimps.
(With inputs from IANS)
