Conservation of purple wood pigeon demanded

BHUBANESWAR: Pale Capped Pigeon or Purple Wood Pigeon ((Columba punicea)) can be found in scattered populations in Southeast Asia. A strong and swift flier, pale-capped pigeon, once common throughout much of Southeast Asia, is now in decline. The species is protected by law in India (pigeons are generically included) under the Schedule IV of the Wildlife Act 1972. 

The pigeon is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The population was estimated to number fewer than 10,000 individuals by Bird Life International during 2001, based on available records and surveys. It is placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

This kind of pigeon is thought to be seasonally nomadic, living in some regions for only part of the year before migrating elsewhere to breed. This could be due to the seasonal availability of food in different areas throughout the year. The species is resident but “very local” in occurrence. 

Apart from Singhbhum (Dhalbhum) and Bihar, this bird was reportedly seen in the Similipal hills of Mayurbhanj at an elevation of about 600–900 m during 1967 by Jayakar. He also spotted these birds in the Chandaka-Dampara Sanctuary and near Bhubaneswar during 1967. Even the Bombay Natural History Society has reported that these birds had been seen in the sanctuary by the participants during BNHS-IBA workshops. 

In general, however, the infrequency of sightings in all these regions, and the extremely few scattered reports from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, clearly show that the species is very rare. 

Wild Orissa, an organisation for conservation of nature and wildlife, has been engaged in the monitoring of presence of this species in Odisha since 1999 as part of its Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) initiative of which it is an organisational partner. After a substantial time gap this species was recorded by the organisation during October 2010 in an area of the Chandaka-Dampara ecosystem here and in Similipal forest areas during 2012-13. 

The organisation stated that small time poachers indulge in killing of birds like doves, pigeons, coucals, egrets and open billed storks in and around the capital city and they might kill the Purple Wood Pigeon as the sites from where observations have been made are coming under the areas of operation of these small time hunters. There are a number of issues concerning the conservation of this vulnerable species which include nomadism, frugivorous habit, local migrations, similarity with doves and pigeons, extremely low numbers, fast growing urbanization and poaching.

Wild Orissa said that there is a need to conduct further surveys, particularly in Odisha, to clarify its current distribution, seasonal movements and population status. Further research is needed to examine its ecological requirements and the relative effects of various threats operating across its range, it added. 

The wildlife body urged the State Government to identify and protect sites supporting key populations. There is a need for promoting improved management and establish buffer zones around protected areas supporting key populations, it suggested.

Wild Orissa further demanded the State Government to control bird hunting within all protected areas and devise awareness campaigns to reduce this illegal activity.