Lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) in paddy field, Malaysia
The Lesser Adjutants have been listed as "Vulnerable" based on assumptions and surveys in forested areas as being relatively rare, while being affected to their detriment by agricultural expansions.[8] Subsequent work in South Asia, that has been far more detailed and nuanced, with analyses covering robust colony-level and landscape-level evaluations, have shown these assumptions to be incorrect and likely part of generic assumptions that appear to be overlaid on all agricultural areas and birds by scientists in developed countries.[16][17][18][23] Like for many other large waterbirds, the south-east Asian populations of Lesser Adjutant storks appear to be greatly at risk due to a combination of hunting and habitat destruction.[3][24] Emerging new information from Nepal suggests that the population sizes of Lesser Adjutants are likely much greater than any estimate being currently used, and the assertion that this species is declining rapidly is likely also not accurate given the high breeding success documented across lowland Nepal. A more thorough evaluation based on evidence appears essential to properly assess population sizes and other metrics related to species status for this species.
Size: 6960px × 4640px
Location: Malaysia
Photo credit: © Eng Wah Teo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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