Assam: Rare White-Winged Ducks Spotted In Dehing Patkai National Park

DIBRUGARH: A rare pair of white-winged ducks, a male and a female, were recently seen in Assam's Dehing Patkai National Park. This endangered species was spotted by a team from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) during a survey. The team used Passive Acoustic Monitoring, a special technique that helps track hard-to-find animals.

The white-winged duck, also known as the white-winged wood duck (Asarcornis scutulata), is a large duck species that was previously classified under the genus Cairina alongside the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) and associated with dabbling ducks. This is one of the largest living species of duck next only to the steamer ducks which are heavier.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Crocodile Catfish, an invasive species, was found in the Bahini River in Guwahati's Basistha area, raising concerns about possible harm to the environment.

Experts warned that the Crocodile Catfish, which feed on smaller fish and larvae, could harm the local aquatic life by reducing native fish populations and upsetting the natural balance. If their numbers keep growing, it could affect the biodiversity in the long run.

In response to the alarming find, the State Fishery Department collected samples for analysis to determine the extent of the threat. The discovery came amid growing concerns over the spread of invasive species in Assam’s rivers, raising the need for urgent intervention to protect native aquatic life.

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