BUGUN
LIOCICHLA - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Arunachal tribe donates
land for critically endangered songbird Bugun Liocichla
What's
in the news?
●
The Buguns, a major tribe living near Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal
Pradesh, have generously donated 1,470 hectares of land to conserve the
Bugun Liocichla bird.
Bugun
Liocichla:
●
Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum) is a bird
species.
Official
Recognition:
●
It was first spotted in 1995 in Arunachal
Pradesh.
●
However, the bird was officially
documented in 2006 after astrophysicist Ramana Athreya discovered it in
Arunachal Pradesh’s Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
Habitat:
●
It is primarily observed in specific areas
within Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Braiduah village under the Singchung
subdivision of Arunachal Pradesh.
●
There are only 14-20 of these birds in the
state.
Characteristics:
●
This bird is a small babbler, measuring
just 20 cm, with olive-grey feathers and a black cap.
●
It is exclusively
found in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and nowhere else in the world.
Conservation
Efforts:
●
The Arunachal Pradesh government
officially declared Braiduah Community
Reserve protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
●
The reserve is situated adjacent to the
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
Conservation
Status:
●
IUCN: Critically
Endangered
Significance:
●
It was the first bird discovered since
India’s Independence.
Go
back to basics:
Bugun
Tribes:
●
The Buguns migrated from Tibet through East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh.
Livelihood
& Habitat:
●
Their daily lives are deeply connected to their environment.
●
Similar to other Indo-Mongoloid tribes in
Arunachal Pradesh, the Buguns, also construct their homes using bamboo.
●
The Buguns are known for their hard work
in farming and their skill in extracting oil from a local wood species called
Chiblem, which is found in the forests.
Lifestyle:
●
They have separate borders with neighbouring
tribes and speak a distinct language
called Khowa.
●
They have their own decision-making body
called Nimiang, which oversees the community’s affairs.
●
Buguns tend to practice endogamy by
marrying individuals within their own community.
Festival:
●
The Bugun people celebrate their annual
festival known as “Pham-Kho.”