BLACK STORK (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, a Black Stork, a species rarely seen, has been spotted in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.

Black Stork

• About: The black stork (Ciconia nigra ) is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae
• Habitat: It breeds in swampy, coniferous, and mixed forests.

oIt can also be found in grasslands, agricultural fields, and on the margins of lakes and rivers during winter.

oIt is a long-distance migrant, with European populations wintering in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian populations in the Indian subcontinent.

• Distribution: It is mainly found in Europe, Asia, and African countries.
• IUCN Status: Least concern

Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh

• Location: State of Uttar Pradesh and It is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in northern India.
• It lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing through the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor.
• Flora: It has a variety of landforms and is a mixture of different habitats such as wetlands, marshes, dry sand beds, and gently sloping ravines.
• Fauna: Swamp Deer, Leopard, Wild Cats, Wild Otter, Pythons etc.
• It is a part of the "Asia Flyway" project, and many migratory Birds, both local and foreign, flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region