Assam’s state bird, the white-winged wood duck, locally known as ‘deo hah’, is facing a grave threat to its survival, with experts warning that the species is now virtually in “ICU” and requires urgent community participation to prevent extinction.
Once found in significant numbers across Assam’s eastern forests, the critically endangered duck has disappeared from most of its former habitats.
During the 1990s, the white-winged wood duck was recorded across reserve forests in Tinsukia district, including Doomdooma, as well as in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. However, sustained deforestation, habitat degradation and increasing human activity have led to its near-total disappearance from these areas.
“The critically endangered duck has been facing an extinction threat due to multiple factors. At present, the white-winged wood duck is believed to survive only in Dihing-Patkai National Park and Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam, but its population size remains unknown,” said Aftab Ahmed, biologist with the Wildlife Trust of India.
He added that lack of public awareness has compounded the problem. “There is very little awareness that this duck is the state bird of Assam. Many people are not even aware of its existence. Until the late 1990s, the deo hah was found in large numbers in Doomdooma, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and other reserve forest areas, but it has not been sighted in these forests for many years now,” Ahmed said.
Experts note that the species has undergone a rapid population decline due to the widespread loss, degradation and disturbance of lowland forest wetland habitats, which are crucial for its survival. Remaining populations are believed to be small, fragmented and of uncertain viability.
Available data suggest a collapse in both the range and abundance of the white-winged wood duck over the past three generations, spanning approximately 26 years from 1997 to 2023. Alarmingly, declines have been recorded even in areas where the extent of suitable habitat has not changed significantly, indicating that the species is particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and poorly understood stochastic events.
Concerns have also been raised about industrial activity in key habitats. “There are many oil rigs in the Dihing-Patkai area, and habitat disturbance has been observed in several locations. I urge the government and Oil India Limited to take this matter seriously and ensure that the habitat of the duck is not disturbed,” said Devojit Moran, a nature enthusiast from the region.
Moran emphasised that official neglect and lack of outreach have further marginalised conservation efforts. “The white-winged wood duck is the state bird of Assam, yet many people are unaware of it because there has been very little awareness-building from the government’s side,” he said.
He further stressed the ecological and economic implications of losing the species. “The white-winged wood duck is critically endangered and its population has been declining sharply. The government must prioritise the protection of wetlands and forest patches in Dihing-Patkai where the ducks are still found. Every year, people visit Dihing-Patkai hoping to catch a glimpse of this rare bird. If it goes extinct, that connection with nature will be lost forever. The duck is in the ICU, and it needs immediate help and strong community participation to survive,” Moran said.
Ironically, despite the species being listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List since 2010, the Assam Forest Department has yet to conduct a dedicated survey to assess its current population status. Conservationists argue that without accurate data, meaningful recovery plans and habitat protection strategies remain difficult to implement.
As Assam grapples with balancing development and conservation, experts warn that the fate of the white-winged wood duck will serve as a crucial indicator of the state’s commitment to preserving its unique natural heritage.
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