Bugun liocichla was the first bird to be discovered in India since its independence
There is some good news for those involved in the protection of Bugun liocichla, the bird discovered by astrophysicist Ramana Athreya in 2006: The Bugun Liocichla Utsav (celebration) may become an annual event. A corpus fund for Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve (SBVCR), a biodiversity hotspot, may also be in the offing.
Arunachal Pradesh forest minister, Mama Natung, spoke of the possibilites at the five-day Bugun Liocichla Utsav (from 10-15 October) at Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
The festival was held to commemorate 15 years of the bird’s discovery. It comprised film screening, quiz, bird watching, snake handling workshop, trekking, talent hunt, rope course, adventure activities, T-shirt painting and photography.
Bugun liocichla was the first bird discovered since India’s Independence. The bird is seen in select pockets of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and
SBVCR (234 square kilometres), which is looked after by at least 27 people. It won the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in the ‘Conservation of wildlife species’ category for its efforts to conserve Bugun Liocichla.
The bird has been named in honour of the efforts of the Bugun community of Singchung village in West Kameng district in conserving the wildlife and forest of the area.
Ramana Athreya, who was present at the festival, suggested that the community should continue the conservation work.
Natung said Bugun liocichla has made the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and SBVCR a must-visit destination for tourists and wildlifers. “The Buguns and the Bugun liocichla are the pride of our state,” he said.
There are only 14-20 such birds in the state. They occupy 3-4 square kilometre area in the temperate forest, within the traditional lands of Singchung village. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has classified this species as critically endangered.
All those who contributed to the conservation and promotion of Bugun liocichla were felicitated at the event.
Rinchin Zomba Merakpa, chairperson, West Kameng Zilla Parishad requested more local youths to come forward and work as guides and tour operators. She assured all assistance to the SBVCR and local Bugun community.
RK Singh, principal chief conservator of forests, assured all possible assistance from the department. He also congratulated the Bugun community for SBVCR with legal status under the Wildlife Protection Act being the first community reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.
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