Arunchal discovers a new avian species

Guwahati, Sep 18 (UNI) After the discovery of a new species of monkey two years back, Arunachal Pradesh Wildlife Department has discovered a new avian species in the state.

The discovery is the country's first Ornithological finding since 1948, a department official said.

The common mass is not aware of the discovery but it is indeed a landmark in the field of animal study, officials said.

''It is a great discovery,'' conservationist from Aarnyak, the region's biggest wildlife organisation Bibhab Talukdar said.

A bird lover and an astronomer by profession Raman Athreya is the proud founder of this multi-coloured member of the babbler family.

Mr Athreya spotted the bird in the state's Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and named it Bugun liocichlas or Liocichla bugunorum after the Bugun tribe who live around the fringes of the sanctuary.

Mr Athreya discovered the bird in May but waited three months for verification by the international experts.

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