Chanchal Gola/ Ramnagar
The rare Himalayan bird species Ibisbill, which once flocked to the Kosi riverbanks of Corbett National Park every winter, is now vanishing rapidly. The bird, earlier seen in groups of seven, has now dwindled to just two. This sharp decline has alarmed tourists and bird lovers alike
A bird enthusiast, Deep Rajwar says that Ibisbill migrates thousands of kilometres every year from Sikkim, Ladakh and higher Himalayan regions to seek refuge along the Kosi river. The quiet atmosphere and pebble-strewn riverbanks had long been its preferred winter habitat. However, this peace is gradually disappearing.
The rapid mushrooming of resorts near Corbett Park, late-night wedding celebrations, blaring sound systems and rising human activity have increasingly disturbed these highly sensitive birds. As a result, their numbers dropped from seven to five and now to only two near the Garjiya temple.
A wildlife expert Prashant Kumar explains that the Ibisbill is extremely shy and avoids loud noise or disturbance of any kind. “If the situation does not improve, this rare winter visitor may abandon the region permanently,” he warned. The local bird lovers and the tourism community have urged the administration to enforce strict noise-control measures and protect the sensitive zones so that the Kosi riverbank can once again become a safe haven for these Himalayan migra
