WCS 3-Sentence Science

Battling Against the Extinction of the Bengal Florican

November 22, 2019

CREDIT: WCS

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present work by WCS’s Simon Mahood on conservation of the Bengal florican.

1. Researchers measured progress in conservation of the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), a critically endangered grassland bird found from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia.
2. They used a variety of metrics to identify priority threats, from predation by dogs to powerlines, and then assessed conservation needs at all sites that support the bird, highlighting conservation achievements at Stoung-Chikreang Bengal Florican Conservation Area (BFCA), Manas National Park, Kaziranga National Park and other areas.
3. The researchers say that if priority threats can be adequately addressed, the extinction of Bengal Florican can be prevented.

Study and Journal: “A systematic expert-based assessment of progress and priorities for conservation of the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis” from Conservation Science and Practice
WCS Co-Author(s): Simon Mahood (Lead), Senior Technical Advisor, WCS Cambodia

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.