Rise in number of threatened bird species in the country: Govt.

New Delhi, Aug. 25 (ANI): The Government on Wednesay said that an increasing trend in the number of threatened bird species has been observed in the country.

Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Jairam Ramesh, in reply to a question by Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and Dilip Singh Judev in Lok Sabha, said: "The studies by BirdLife International and Bombay Natural History Society show an increasing trend in the number of threatened bird species.uring 2001, there were 8 criticially endangered cases of birds, 10 endangered, 57 vulnerable and the number of near threatened cases stood at 52.

Whereas during 2006, there were 9 criticially endangered cases of birds, 11 endangered, 54 vulnerable and the number of near threatened cases stood at 55.

During 2010, there have been 14 criticially endangered cases of birds, 16 endangered, 56 vulnerable, and the number of nearly threatened cases stands at 66.

The Minister said that the main reasons for increase in the number of threatened bird species are deterioration of their habitat, hunting and unregulated use of pesticides/insecticides etc. (ANI)