Assam: Endangered Eagle From Mongolia Returns To Kaziranga For Fifth Consecutive Year

KAZIRANGA: An endangered Pallas' fish eagle, known as Ider and tagged in Mongolia, returned to Assam's Kaziranga National Park for the fifth straight year to breed. The return of the bird to the park points to the park's vital status as a habitat for migratory birds.

The male eagle, identified by the ring code “A25,” was first tagged on August 21, 2020, at Buuntsagaan Lake in Central Western Mongolia by the Wildlife Science and Conservation Centre (WSCC). Scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) confirmed Ider's presence in Kaziranga on March 16, 2025.

Pallas' fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) is listed as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List, with a strongly declining population throughout Central and South Asia. Estimates at present indicate that there are between 2,500 and 9,999 mature individuals.

Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, noted that Ider exhibits a unique “reverse migration” pattern, breeding in India during the winter months and returning to Mongolia during the non-breeding season. Kaziranga, spanning 1,302 square kilometers, is situated along the Central Asian Flyway, a major migratory route that supports hundreds of bird species.

In the recent 6th Kaziranga Waterbird Count in January 2025, as many as 124 species of birds were counted, comprising more than 112,000 birds. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma admitted the eagles' return, pointing out the importance of highlighting Assam's contribution to bird migration on a global platform.

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