Human intrusion harming Hry bird haven, birders call for rules

Crucial bird habitat under threat

- Leena Dhankhar

GURUGRAM: Hidden in the rugged folds of the Aravallis just south of Gurugram city lies the Bhondsi forest. This semi-evergreen terrain, with its rocky ledges, dry foliage, and seasonal water bodies, has long served as a safe haven for birds, both resident and migratory.

Though not a designated wildlife sanctuary, Bhondsi is a critical ecological corridor that connects fragmented green zones and supports a diverse population of birds — from the flamboyant Indian pitta to the elusive Indian eagle owl — and is home to nearly 46% of Haryana's bird species. However, in recent years, this rich landscape has come under siege from a different kind of intrusion: unscrupulous birders who go to any length to get the "perfect photo", as well as to poachers.

Conservationists are now raising the alarm as mounting human interference threatens to irrevocably harm one of Haryana's most vibrant birding spots.

Unchecked human interference