By Abinash Chaudhary
Dhangadhi, June 28: The number of Finn's weaver, which is called Sunaulo top chara in Nepali, found only in Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP) in Nepal is gradually declining.
The number of Finn’s weaver is declining in the world due to increasing human intervention in nature. The species, which is on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is considered very sensitive.
The bird, which has been missing from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary since 2007, is also declining in Shuklaphanta in recent years.
A census conducted jointly by SNP and the Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) this year found only 246 Finn’s weavers in Shuklaphanta. Last year, their number was 254 in the park.
Earlier, during the 2017 census, their number was recorded 300, which declined to 174 in the 2019 Census. As the number of these birds is declining in Nepal and India, it is said that discussions are underway to put this bird on the most endangered list in the world.
Finn’s weaver is found in the Sikari lake area of ​​SNP, Sinhapurphanta, Mohanpur, Andaiya, Pattaiyaphanta and Darakh grasslands.
Finn’s weaver was recorded in Shuklaphanta for the first time in 1996. Ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral discovered the species while conducting his PhD research in 2008. He had found 11 Finn’s weaver in the area. He discovered the species of bird was 'breeding' around Sikari Lake of Shuklaphanta.
Ornithologist Hirulal Dangaura said that existence of Finn’s weaver was in danger because of increasing human intervention in nature, destruction of natural habitats and the use of pesticides in agriculture.
"The species of birds are found only in the Terai region, but due to human activities, the bird's survival is now in danger," he said.
In Nepal, four species of Finn’s weavers are found, namely, Chhatikale (Black-breasted weaver), dharke (Streaked Weaver), baya (Baya Weaver) and Sunaulo (Finn’s Weaver).
A total of 450 species of birds are found in SNP in far-west of Nepal near the border with India. Of them, 23 are rare in the world and 74 are listed as endangered in Nepal.