Wildlife experts have called on the Telangana government to protect the Indian Roller, the State bird, following its inclusion on the IUCN Red List. They highlighted threats from poaching, habitat loss, and pesticide use, urging stronger conservation and legal measures.
The Indian Roller, or palapitta, Telangana’s state bird, has been moved to the ‘Near Threatened’ category on the IUCN Red List following a sharp population decline. The State of Indian Birds–2023 report and recent Hyderabad Bird Atlas survey highlight the species’ alarming drop.
Despite repeated warnings, poaching and rituals during Dasara have endangered Telangana’s State bird, the Palapitta, as hundreds were caged or tied for display. NGOs rescued a few, but enforcement remains weak even as the species faces alarming population decline.
BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao greeted the people of Telangana on Dasara, describing it as a festival of righteousness and collective progress. He highlighted its cultural significance alongside Bathukamma and Devi Navaratri, and recalled how Dasara’s spirit inspired the statehood movement
As Dasara approaches, Palapitta birds are illegally captured for good luck rituals. GHSPCA has urged citizens to report such cases and continues its annual rescue operations, freeing and rehabilitating Indian Roller birds with veterinary care before releasing them back to the wild
During Dasara, poachers capture the Indian Roller (Palapitta), Telangana’s state bird, to display at temples, causing high mortality. Experts warn that captivity is fatal, with nearly half dying. Citizens are urged to report cases to AWCS or Forest Department authorities.
The Palapitta usually nests in tree holes and feeds on insects. Due to the indiscriminate felling of trees and lack of food, the bird appears to be moving away from the State capital
The Congress leader, along with his family, held the birds inappropriately to display them to citizens in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Farmers once valued it for pest control in low-pesticide times. During Dussehra, spotting this bird is considered a sign of prosperity for agriculture.
Hyderabad: In the last couple of years, several artists have dedicated hours to make Hyderabad’s road more colourful and interesting. One such artist is Santhosh Buddhi, whose most recent art installation – a bottle-shaped dustbin – near Tank Bund has garnered a lot of attention. After being assigned the project by the GHMC, Santhosh took […]
