Video: Rare endangered white-bellied heron spotted in Arunachal Pradesh

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<strong>The video of the rare and critically endangered white-bellied heron posted by Kamlang Tiger Reserve on their Twitter has gone viral. The reserve is located in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.</strong></p>
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The heron can be seen perched on a rock in the midst of a water body and after sometime it flies away.</p>
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<strong>The video:</strong></p>
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White bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) sighted during the AITE 2021-22.<br />
Prefers undisturbed habitats. IUCN has categorized it under CRITICALLY ENDANGERED species list,with an estimated 250 individuals in the world.<a href="https://twitter.com/ntca_india?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ntca_india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ArunForests?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArunForests</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MyGovArunachal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MyGovArunachal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ParveenKaswan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParveenKaswan</a> <a href="https://t.co/pc2IFV0D65">pic.twitter.com/pc2IFV0D65</a></p>
— Kamlang Tiger Reserve (@KamlangTiger) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamlangTiger/status/1492417736613326848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This bird is mainly dark greyish and has white belly, vent and throat, white-streaked scapulars, fore neck and upper breast. The male and female have two lace-like white plumes on the back of their neck.</p>
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The scientific name of this heron is Ardea insignis and it is found in Bhutan, Northeast India, hills of Bangladesh, north Myanmar and west, central Myanmar.</p>
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It was spotted recently in Assam and Namdapaha in Arunachal Pradesh, a few sites in Bhutan, and parts of Myanmar.</p>
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Categorised as critically endangered IUCN its population is rapidly declining due to the loss and degradation of lowland forests and wetlands.</p>