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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Conservation 自然保育 >>  Record counts of threatened ibis 柬浦寨瀕危白肩黑[還鳥]數目破紀錄
        
(Message started by: HKBWS Project on Jan 10^th, 2006, 10:38am)

Title: Record counts of threatened ibis 柬浦寨瀕危白肩黑[還鳥]數目破紀錄
Post by HKBWS Project on Jan 10^th, 2006, 10:38am

BirdLife International :

Record counts of threatened ibis

05-01-2006

http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/01/white-shouldered_ibis.html

In November 2005, BirdLife International Cambodia project staff recorded up to 70 White-shouldered Ibis at wetlands in Western Siem Pang Important Bird Area (IBA).

This extraordinary November count represents a significant increase in the numbers of White-shouldered Ibis recorded. Previously the highest counts were 23 in January 2003 and 33 in November 2004. These new counts are highly significant as upper estimates of this Critically Endangered species' population are of just 250 mature individuals. 40 individuals were still present in December 2005.

The White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni is a large ibis which inhabits lakes, pools, marshes and slow-flowing watercourses in open lowland dipterocarp forest, often subject to seasonal flooding. It also occurs in sparsely wooded, dry or wet grasslands and wide rivers with sand and gravel bars. Populations have declined as a result of habitat loss, through logging and drainage of wetlands for agriculture (most of the Mekong floodplain in southern Laos has been converted to rice paddies), livestock grazing, grass harvesting, and development. Habitat loss has been compounded by hunting for food and disturbance, leading to the loss of secure feeding, roosting and nesting areas. Disturbance and persecution are probably now the greatest threats to the ibis.

The global population of the White-shouldered Ibis is thought to number no more than 250 mature individuals

BirdLife International's Cambodia Programme Office has been working in north-east Cambodia since 2003 to undertake a range of community-based conservation activities.

A priority area within the region is Western Siem Pang IBA, a mosaic of open deciduous forest and small seasonal wetlands (trapeangs), together with semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous riverine forest along the Sekong River, and semi-evergreen forest on hills near the international border with Laos. The site is arguably the most important in Cambodia for the conservation of globally threatened bird species and supports the only known potentially viable population of White-shouldered Ibis in mainland south-east Asia, as well as populations of three other Critically Endangered birds: Giant Ibis Thaumatibis gigantea, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis and Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris.

The Cambodia Programme is working with relevant government departments to promote Western Siem Pang as a protected area thereby greatly increasing the viability of these small critical White-shouldered Ibis populations. Ongoing work in partnership with local communities aims to educate about the status of these bird populations, ensure their protection from persecution, and establish activities to mitigate further population declines.