Cairina scutulata

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	Anseriformes	Anatidae

Scientific Name:

Cairina scutulata

Species Authority:

(S. Müller, 1842)

Common Name/s:

English	–	White-winged Duck, White-winged Wood Duck
Spanish	–	Pato Almizclero Aliblanco, Pato De Jungla

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2cd+3cd+4cd; C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S. & Crosby, M. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)

Justification:
This forest duck is listed as Endangered because it has a very small and fragmented population which is undergoing a very rapid and continuing decline as a result of loss of and disturbance to riverine habitats.

History:

2006	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered
1988	–	Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Cairina scutulata was historically widely distributed from north-east India and Bangladesh, through South-East Asia to Java and Sumatra, Indonesia. It has undergone a dramatic decline such that, its population is now estimated at c.1,000 individuals, comprising 200 in Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, 150 on Sumatra, Indonesia, 450 in India (chiefly Assam and Arunachal Pradesh) and Bangladesh³ and in the "low hundreds" in Myanmar⁴ following the identification of a significant population numbering tens of individuals in the proposed Hukuang Tiger Reserve. It has also recently been recorded in Bhutan². It continues to decline throughout its range, and is probably extinct in Malaysia and on Java. Recent ornithological surveys within range states led to a proliferation of records, particularly from Cambodia and Myanmar (where recent estimates suggest the population in the north may be several hundred¹) but also Vietnam, Sumatra and India.
Countries:	Native: Bangladesh; Cambodia; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Myanmar; Thailand; Viet Nam Possibly extinct: Malaysia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	There has not been a comprehensive analysis of recent records, but estimates of c.450 in India (A. Choudhury in litt. 2007), "low hundreds" in Myanmar and c.100 in Cambodia (J. C. Eames in litt. 2007) combined with an earlier estimate of 150 in Indonesia (BirdLife International 2001) suggest that the species's population may precautionarily be considered to lie at the upper limit of a band of 250-1000 individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

There has not been a comprehensive analysis of recent records, but estimates of c.450 in India (A. Choudhury in litt. 2007), "low hundreds" in Myanmar and c.100 in Cambodia (J. C. Eames in litt. 2007) combined with an earlier estimate of 150 in Indonesia (BirdLife International 2001) suggest that the species's population may precautionarily be considered to lie at the upper limit of a band of 250-1000 individuals.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits stagnant or slow-flowing natural and artificial wetlands, within or adjacent to evergreen, deciduous or swamp forests, on which it depends for roosting and nesting, usually in tree-holes. Although lowlands (below c.200 m) provide optimum habitat, it occurs up to 1,400 m, especially on plateaux supporting sluggish perennial rivers and pools.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Its decline is largely attributable to the destruction, degradation and disturbance of riverine habitats including loss of riparian forest corridors. The resultant small, fragmented populations are vulnerable to extinction from stochastic environmental events, loss of genetic variability, disturbance, hunting and collection of eggs and chicks for food or pets. Hydro-power development, inappropriate forest management, and pollution are more localised threats. It may be particularly susceptible to loss of large trees with nesting holes¹.

Major Threat(s):

Its decline is largely attributable to the destruction, degradation and disturbance of riverine habitats including loss of riparian forest corridors. The resultant small, fragmented populations are vulnerable to extinction from stochastic environmental events, loss of genetic variability, disturbance, hunting and collection of eggs and chicks for food or pets. Hydro-power development, inappropriate forest management, and pollution are more localised threats. It may be particularly susceptible to loss of large trees with nesting holes¹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: CITES Appendix I. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and produced, and implements, an action plan for the species. In 1993, 21 protected areas were known to support populations. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Dihing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Assam, were established because of its importance for this species. Conservation awareness materials depicting it have been widely distributed in Laos and Cambodia. Conservation actions proposed: Conduct further surveys to clarify its distribution and status. Instigate regular monitoring of selected key populations. Promote strict enforcement of hunting regulations and minimise encroachment, disturbance and habitat degradation in all protected areas supporting populations. Campaign for increased protection of peat-swamp forest in Sumatra. Campaign against pesticide and oil pollution at key sites in north-east India. Promote widespread conservation awareness campaigns in and around key protected areas. Rapidly introduce the measures outlined above in newly discovered strongholds, e.g. northern Myanmar.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

CITES Appendix I. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and produced, and implements, an action plan for the species. In 1993, 21 protected areas were known to support populations. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Dihing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Assam, were established because of its importance for this species. Conservation awareness materials depicting it have been widely distributed in Laos and Cambodia.

Conservation actions proposed:

Conduct further surveys to clarify its distribution and status. Instigate regular monitoring of selected key populations. Promote strict enforcement of hunting regulations and minimise encroachment, disturbance and habitat degradation in all protected areas supporting populations. Campaign for increased protection of peat-swamp forest in Sumatra. Campaign against pesticide and oil pollution at key sites in north-east India. Promote widespread conservation awareness campaigns in and around key protected areas. Rapidly introduce the measures outlined above in newly discovered strongholds, e.g. northern Myanmar.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Cairina scutulata. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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