Cambodia protects endangered Bengal florican

11/06/2006 00:00:00 November 2006. The government of Cambodia has recently moved to set aside more than 100 square miles of habitat for the endangered Bengal florican, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The Bengal florican, a type of bustard, is restricted to tiny fragments of grassland scattered across Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal and India, which are threatened by land conversion for industrial-scale agriculture. The new network of protected areas covers more than 100 square miles near Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, home to what is thought to be the world’s largest remaining population of floricans. Protecting grasslands is also crucial for local human communities, who in turn help to maintain the quality of the habitat through traditional grazing, burning and scrub-clearance.

The decision to protect the bird’s habitat was made by Nam Tum, the provincial governor of Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province.

A recent survey conducted by both WCS, and BirdLife International found that the Bengal florican is threatened by the disappearance of grassland habitat in the Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provinces and that the total population for the region, although less than 1000 individuals, is still the largest remaining population for the entire species. The species is listed as Endangered according to the IUCN Red List. Provincial protected areas are also being designed in 3 other provinces.

The Bengal florican is a largely terrestrial bird that is mostly black in colour with white wings. It vocalizes in croaks and a deep, humming sound during its courtship displays.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).