Guwahati, Nov 14: Assam’s State bird – the white-winged wood duck (deo hanh) – may be on the brink of extinction.

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is carrying out a survey of the bird in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and according to preliminary estimates, only around 300 individuals may be left in Northeast India.

The survey is part of a WTI project that aims to bridge the information gap, and outline and execute a long-term recovery plan in collaboration with the forest department, local stakeholders, and experts.

According to conservationist Anwaruddin Choudhury, who pioneered studies on the white-winged wood duck, the bird’s population in Assam could be less than 200.

“Their numbers have noticeably declined in recent years. It is unlikely that there are more than 200 such ducks in

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