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Bengal Florican

CR Critically Endangered

Houbaropsis bengalensis

Status

Critically Endangered

Population

~250 globally, ~80 in Nepal

Trend

↓Decreasing

Group

Birds

Family

Otididae

Data Source

2025-2

Threat Summary

Conversion of lowland grassland to agriculture (rice paddies, sugarcane) has eliminated over 90% of Bengal Florican habitat across the Terai. In Nepal, encroachment into buffer zones of protected areas, premature grass cutting for livestock fodder, and disturbance during the breeding season are the primary threats. Hydropower infrastructure along the Koshi and Narayani rivers further fragments remaining habitat. Threats are intensifying.

Source: 2025-2

Threats (4)

Small-holder farming (rice, sugarcane)

Code: 2.1.2 · Severity: Very Rapid · Scope: Majority

Ongoing

Small-holder grazing and ranching

Code: 2.3.2 · Severity: Rapid · Scope: Majority

Ongoing

Roads & railroads

Code: 4.1 · Severity: Slow · Scope: Minority

Future

Other ecosystem modifications (grass cutting)

Code: 7.3 · Severity: Rapid · Scope: Whole

Ongoing

Habitats (1)

Grassland — Subtropical/Tropical Dry (Terai)

Code: 4.5 · Suitable · Major importance

Countries (3)

KHCambodia INIndia NPNepal

Conservation Actions (0)

No conservation action data available

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Otidiformes

Family

Otididae

Genus

Houbaropsis