The white-winged wood duck, Assam’s state bird locally called deo hah, is on the brink of extinction, with conservationists describing its condition as critically fragile. Once a common sight in eastern Assam’s forested wetlands, the species has steadily retreated from most of its earlier range.
During the 1990s, the species was recorded in several forest pockets across Upper Assam. But decades of deforestation, wetland loss, habitat fragmentation, and growing human interference have pushed it to the edge of extinction.
Key points:
- The White-winged Wood Duck (Deo Hanh) is Assam’s state bird.
- It is on the brink of extinction due to rapid population decline.
- Habitat Loss: Major threat comes from deforestation, wetland destruction, and human encroachment.
- Limited Distribution: Found in small, fragmented populations mainly in Northeast India and parts of Southeast Asia.
- Assam holds one of the last remaining strongholds of the species.
- Experts warn that without urgent action, the species may disappear from the wild.
