Leptoptilos javanicus

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	CICONIIFORMES	CICONIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Leptoptilos javanicus

Species Authority:

(Horsfield, 1821)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Lesser Adjutant

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Browne, S., Choudhury, A., Clements, T., Evans, T. & Sourav, S.

Justification:
This stork is listed as Vulnerable because its population is suspected to be rapidly declining, as a result of hunting pressure in particular.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Leptoptilos javanicus has an extensive range across South and South-East Asia (BirdLife International 2001). Substantial populations remain only in India - mostly in Assam, with c.2,000 birds (Choudhury 2000), West Bengal and Bihar, where 42 nests had breeding confirmed in 2004 (Mishra et al. 2004), Indonesia (c.2,000 in 1993, the majority on Sumatra) and Cambodia (1,000 individuals or 300 pairs (T. Clements in litt. 2006). There are smaller breeding populations in Nepal, where in 2003 c.50 birds were recorded in Royal Chitwan National Park and the national population was recently estimated at c.300 individuals following surveys in east, central and western Nepal (Baral 2005, Sharma 2006), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh - where a small breeding colony was recently reported from North Bengal (S. H. Sourav in litt. 2011), Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia - estimated at c.500 individuals (Li et al. 2007), Brunei, Vietnam and Thailand. It has been recorded in Bhutan (Choudhary 2005), but is thought to be extinct in China and in Singapore. Formerly common and widespread, it has declined dramatically across its range and has been extirpated from many areas in recent decades owing to the persistent and unregulated harvesting of eggs and chicks at nesting colonies. However, some populations at least seem to be relatively stable, e.g. numbers in the Matang Mangrove Forest, Malaysia have remained relatively constant for 20 years (Li et al. 2006). The current population estimate is 5,000 birds; however, an increase in survey effort across much of the region has revised many national totals upwards. A recent analysis of Cambodian records estimated a national population of c.1,870 pairs (Bird et al. 2007); precautionary interpretation of this figure suggests the previous national estimate of 1,000 individuals should be revised upwards considerably to 2,500-4,000 individuals. Therefore, overall the global population may be considerably larger than previous estimates.
Countries:	Native: Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Viet Nam Possibly extinct: China Regionally extinct: Singapore Vagrant: Bhutan
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	A total population of 5,000 individuals was estimated by Hancock (1993), Choudhury (2000) and, during analysis of all recent records, BirdLife International (2001). However, more extensive survey effort in recent years has led to upward revisions of some national totals: the Cambodian population can now be placed at 2,500-4,000 individuals rather than the previous estimate of c.1,000 individuals. Hence, the global population probably numbers 6,500-8,000 individuals or possibly more, roughly equating to 4,300-5,300 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

A total population of 5,000 individuals was estimated by Hancock (1993), Choudhury (2000) and, during analysis of all recent records, BirdLife International (2001). However, more extensive survey effort in recent years has led to upward revisions of some national totals: the Cambodian population can now be placed at 2,500-4,000 individuals rather than the previous estimate of c.1,000 individuals. Hence, the global population probably numbers 6,500-8,000 individuals or possibly more, roughly equating to 4,300-5,300 mature individuals.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Inland, birds inhabit natural and human-modified wetlands, both open and forested. Coastal populations frequent mangroves and intertidal flats. It nests colonially in large trees, and historically on cliffs, often at traditional sites in or adjacent to wetlands. It utilises small wetlands within Asian dry forest, and can breed some distance from these; shrinking of pools during the dry season and limited availability can lead to overlap with human uses and resulting disturbance.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Inland, birds inhabit natural and human-modified wetlands, both open and forested. Coastal populations frequent mangroves and intertidal flats. It nests colonially in large trees, and historically on cliffs, often at traditional sites in or adjacent to wetlands. It utilises small wetlands within Asian dry forest, and can breed some distance from these; shrinking of pools during the dry season and limited availability can lead to overlap with human uses and resulting disturbance.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Several threats are contributing to its decline, with their relative importance varying across its range. The loss of nest-sites through the felling of colony nest-trees is a major threat, particularly in Assam. In many areas, drainage and conversion of wetland feeding areas, agricultural intensification, increased pesticide use and disturbance, the collection of eggs and chicks and the hunting of adults are major threats. Coastal populations are threatened by large-scale development, including aquaculture and the clearance of mangroves. A recent, and very serious threat, recorded in Nepal and Cambodia, is the practice of poisoning pools to catch fish, which leads to incidental mortality of this species (Gyawali 2004, S. Browne in litt. 2005). The extensive nesting colonies outside protected areas in Assam in the 1990s (Choudhury 2000) have recorded drastic declines owing to the cutting down of trees and drying up of some feeding sites (A. Choudhury in litt. 2012).

Major Threat(s):

Several threats are contributing to its decline, with their relative importance varying across its range. The loss of nest-sites through the felling of colony nest-trees is a major threat, particularly in Assam. In many areas, drainage and conversion of wetland feeding areas, agricultural intensification, increased pesticide use and disturbance, the collection of eggs and chicks and the hunting of adults are major threats. Coastal populations are threatened by large-scale development, including aquaculture and the clearance of mangroves. A recent, and very serious threat, recorded in Nepal and Cambodia, is the practice of poisoning pools to catch fish, which leads to incidental mortality of this species (Gyawali 2004, S. Browne in litt. 2005). The extensive nesting colonies outside protected areas in Assam in the 1990s (Choudhury 2000) have recorded drastic declines owing to the cutting down of trees and drying up of some feeding sites (A. Choudhury in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Important nesting colonies are found in Kaziranga and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam and D'Ering Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. In Cambodia, the breeding colonies at Prek Toal and Moat Khla/Boeng Chhma are core areas in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. Between 1997 and 1999, enforcement of regulations at Prek Toal appears to have reduced exploitation of breeding colonies. It is included in conservation awareness material in Laos and Cambodia. In parts of Cambodia financial incentives have been offered to local residents by conservation organisations if nesting attempts at known waterbird colonies are not disrupted (T. Evans in litt. 2006). The species was the focus of recent studies in Nepal which estimated the national population size and threats, as well as making a number of conservation recommendations (Gyawali 2004, Baral 2005). It was also revealed that the majority of Lesser Adjutant that breed in Nepal do so outside of protected areas (Baral 2005). Recent initiatives in Assam include nest surveys, a nest-tree replanting scheme and conservation awareness campaigns. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor key colonies, and conduct searches for others. Protect nesting colonies outside protected areas. Promote control of pesticide use around feeding areas. Establish a wildlife protection office at Tonle Sap lake. Investigate alternative livelihoods for people dependent on harvesting eggs and chicks. Draft and enforce laws prohibiting hunting, trapping and poisoning. Expand conservation awareness programmes. Research the species's use of and dependence upon agricultural landscapes including rice paddies (Baral 2005). List the species in Nepal under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (Gyawali 2004, Baral 2005). Protect key sites in Nepal.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Important nesting colonies are found in Kaziranga and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam and D'Ering Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. In Cambodia, the breeding colonies at Prek Toal and Moat Khla/Boeng Chhma are core areas in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. Between 1997 and 1999, enforcement of regulations at Prek Toal appears to have reduced exploitation of breeding colonies. It is included in conservation awareness material in Laos and Cambodia. In parts of Cambodia financial incentives have been offered to local residents by conservation organisations if nesting attempts at known waterbird colonies are not disrupted (T. Evans in litt. 2006). The species was the focus of recent studies in Nepal which estimated the national population size and threats, as well as making a number of conservation recommendations (Gyawali 2004, Baral 2005). It was also revealed that the majority of Lesser Adjutant that breed in Nepal do so outside of protected areas (Baral 2005). Recent initiatives in Assam include nest surveys, a nest-tree replanting scheme and conservation awareness campaigns.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor key colonies, and conduct searches for others. Protect nesting colonies outside protected areas. Promote control of pesticide use around feeding areas. Establish a wildlife protection office at Tonle Sap lake. Investigate alternative livelihoods for people dependent on harvesting eggs and chicks. Draft and enforce laws prohibiting hunting, trapping and poisoning. Expand conservation awareness programmes. Research the species's use of and dependence upon agricultural landscapes including rice paddies (Baral 2005). List the species in Nepal under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (Gyawali 2004, Baral 2005). Protect key sites in Nepal.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Leptoptilos javanicus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
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