NEWS

A nematode infestation has led to mass mortality of spot-billed pelicans (Pelicanus philippensis) at Telineelapuram Important Bird Area (IBA) in Andhra Pradesh.

Spot-billed Pelicans

• Scientific name – Pelecanus philippensis
• Also called grey pelican
• Breeds in southern Asia from southern Iran across India east to Indonesia.
• Bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially large lakes.
• Breeding population of these pelican species is limited to India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
• In the non-breeding season they are recorded in Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN status: Near Threatened
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV (Hunting prohibited but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules)