ENDANGERED?: The common sparrow. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan

BANGALORE: India, which to its credit has produced the famed ornithologist Salim Ali, is yet to set up a society to coordinate issues concerning ornithology.

As a result, it has failed to secure the membership of the more than a 100-year-old International Ornithological Congress (IOC).

India's membership is crucial in studies on birds and their conservation, as it is believed that the largest number of bird species has always resided outside Europe and North America, and India is one among the countries that has a good number of bird species.

Expressing disappointment over this, Permanent Secretary of the International Ornithological Congress Dominique Homberger told The Hindu said that efforts of over two decades to form a national society had failed, though the IOC was willing to assist India set up one.

In fact, Indonesia has just formed a national ornithological society with the support of IOC. India cannot even participate in the sessions of the congress held once in four years, she added.

A paradox

She said, "It is a paradox that the largest number of bird species are found in regions outside Europe and North America but the largest number of professional and amateur ornithologists reside in Europe and North America. This imbalance is not sustainable to protect the large biodiversity."

Formed in 1881, the International Ornithological Congress has 50 member-countries and 300 nominated members. As many as 10 leading ornithologists from India are members of the congress.

Incidentally, Indian ornithologist Zafar Futehally was unanimously elected honorary vice-president of the congress at its meeting in Hamburg in August 2006.

To be renamed

The International Ornithological Congress will be renamed International Federation of Ornithological Societies in 2010 when the congress meets in Brazil.

Ms. Romberger said, "There is no dearth of qualified Indian ornithologists and several individual ornithologists are members of the congress. But some how a national society has not been formed."

Brazil became a member only a few years ago, and its national society is functioning well, she added.

Work to do

An ornithologist, on the conditions of anonymity, said that the formation of a national body required much work and most bird watchers and enthusiasts were hobbyists.

He pointed out that the Ornithological Society of India had been formed following the efforts of Mr. Futehally. But it did not succeed.

Acknowledging that it was time for the formation of a national body, he said there are many bird watchers, bird lovers and enthusiasts and the advent of Internet has helped the cause. The growing interest in bird watching in India can be strengthened by the formation of a national society, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail