Why in News?
Two studies by researchers at Hemvathi Bahuguna Garhwal University (HBGU) have highlighted emerging threats to the Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), the state bird of Uttarakhand. One study examines the potential impact of climate change on its habitat, while another found that the bird is modifying its calls in response to increasing human-generated noise from tourism and traffic.
About Himalayan Monal
The Himalayan monal is a colourful, ground-dwelling pheasant found across the Himalayan region, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. It inhabits mountainous forests and alpine environments.
A study conducted in the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary compared monal populations in the relatively quiet Madmaheshwar Valley with those in the more heavily visited Chopta Valley, where roads, tourists and pilgrims generate greater levels of noise. Researchers found that monals in the noisier environment used higher-frequency calls.
Vocal communication is important for monals for social interaction and reproduction. Researchers have suggested that increasing anthropogenic noise could interfere with such communication and potentially affect reproductive success, although this relationship has not yet been established conclusively.
The Himalayan monal is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, researchers have highlighted the lack of reliable local-level population data, which makes it difficult to assess the species’ status and emerging threats accurately.
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