World's tiniest water bird roosts at Kangla
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 02 2012:
Migratory birds which have not only taken temporary shelter at Kangla but are also laying eggs and hatching chicks have turned out to be Cotton Pigmy Goose (Nettapus Coromandelianus), the world's smallest species of migratory water birds.
Following the report published in The Sangai Express about Tingi species of migratory water birds visiting and hatching chicks at Kangla, environmentalist Dr Kh Shamungou and officials of Wildlife Wing, Forest Department conducted a survey inside Kangla and opined that the particular migratory birds are Cotton Pigmy Geese, locally known as Petakot.
The Sangai Express sent photographs of the migratory birds to the Wildlife International, Cambridge, UK.
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There Global Species Programme Officer of the Wildlife International Andy Symes identified the birds as Cotton Pigmy Geese.
During the period of British rule in Manipur, Britishers called this bird as Pedek while the Manipuris called it Petakot.
These water birds were named after their sound, said Dr Shamungou.
Manipuri people once believed that there would be flood if the Petakots are sighted in large flocks.
Petakots were found aplenty in Manipur about 40 years back.
After a long gap, Petakots or Cotton Pigmy Geese were sighted once again in Manipur as migratory birds, added the environmentalist.
In early periods, people kept earthen pots on tree branches so that Petakots could lay eggs comfortably.
Since the Petakots have taken temporary shelter at Kangla where they are also laying eggs and hatching chicks, trees growing in Kangla should not be cut so as not to disturb the migratory birds but facilitate their stay, Shamungou added.
It is reported that Cotton Pigmy Goose is included in the IUCN's red list of threatened species.