Houbara bustard — endangered species under heightening danger

Houbara bustard, a coveted quarry of falconers, faces increasing threat of extinction due to excessive hunting, poaching and onslaughts on its habitats, experts say.
The large migratory bird arrives every year in Pakistan in November-December from Mongolia, Siberia and Central Asian Republics (CARs). Its population is rapidly declining in the range states of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India, UAE and other Middle Eastern countries, according to a study.
The Asian Houbara could become extinct within 15-25 years if unchecked hunting, illegal trapping and trading of the bird continues at the existing scale, says the study conducted by theEnvironment Research and Wild life Development Agency (ERWDA). ERWDA estimates that the natural death rate of the bird called Macqueenii in scientific terminology is 3.28 per cent while death due to hunting accounts for more than 73 per cent. The rate of hunting has reached nearly 20.8 per cent, up from the acceptable 7.2 per cent.
“Because of increase in capture operations and excessive hunting of the bird, especially in its winter habitats of the range states, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has declared it endangered migratory bird. “If the present situation continued, the number of these birds will reduce to 50 per cent by 2015 and they could become extinct by 2027,” the study says.
The desert birds migrate to Pakistan in thousands in winter and return in April and May, said Yar Muhammad Khan, former top official of NWFP Wildlife, Fisheries and Forests department. Journeying about 4,500 to 5,000 kilometers from CARs and Siberia at altitude of 300 to 500 ft houbara flocks land in Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan and arid areas of Sindh and Balochistan, he said. The bird eats flora, insects and earth worms.
“Houbara is very sensitive and it does not use the route again if they sense any danger on their way during the first journey. In case houbara looses its mate, it takes three to five years to find a new one,” Yar Khan said. The population travels in groups having a chieftain. Once they loose their chieftain, the deputy guides the group to reach its destination.
“Approximately 500 to 2000 houbara are being trapped every year with the help of falcons, nets and other means in the arid areas of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. If the ruthless continued, houbara population will vanish in a decade or so,” Yar Khan said. In addition to CITES, houbara bustard is also listed under Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, which is known as the Bonn Convention. The World Conservation Union has put it in the “Near Threatened” category.
Lt Col Shams Ernest, spokesman of the Houbara Bustard International Foundation (HBIF), Lahore, said that all arid areas in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan are the Houbara’s wintering habitats, where sufficient food is available. “Artificial breeding is being carried out in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. But it has to be done under extremely controlled conditions and is very expensive,” he said.
“There is gradual decrease in houbara population coming to Pakistan every year,” Dr Mumtaz Malik, Chief Conservator Wildlife, NWFP, said. Interestingly, rivalry between houbara’s newborns after birth is also one of the factors of their gradual decrease, he said.
“Houbara gives birth only to two offsprings a year but the elder one kills the younger due to the fear of sharing food,” Dr Mumtaz said. According to him the enthusiasm of NGOs interested in preserving the endangered species has been on the decline with the passage of time. Dr Mumtaz recommends the need for community involvement through financial and other incentives in preservation and protection of houbara.

—Fakhar Alam (APP)