Rare Rajalahanche spotted in human settlement

By Avinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, Feb. 3: The world’s rare ‘Great Slaty Woodpecker’, known as 'Rajalahanche' in local language, has been spotted in a human settlement in Kailali district.

Two birds of this rare species were seen on Saturday morning on a tree amid houses in Devhariya, Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-7.

The Rajalahanche usually prefers tall sal trees in forests, making its presence in a residential area unusual.

This is the first time the species has been recorded in the Devhariya area, which lies close to the Devhariya Botanical Garden and Jakhore Lake.

 The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Rajalahanche as a vulnerable species.

In Kailali, the Rajalahanche was first recorded in 2014 in the Ghodaghodi Bird Sanctuary area. However, this is the first confirmed record from the Devhariya Botanical Garden area of Dhangadhi, according to ornithologists.

Ornithologist Hirulal Dangoura said the Rajalahanche has been sighted in several sal forest areas of Kailali in recent years. “Earlier, the species was seen in the Patela and Beli areas of Dhangadhi. It has also been recorded in forests around Ghodaghodi and other parts of the district,” he said.

Foreign birdwatchers often visit protected areas such as Bardiya National Park and Shuklaphanta National Park to observe this species. Conservationists said that the sighting of the rare bird outside protected areas -- and within a human settlement -- is an encouraging sign.Veteran conservationist Bijaya Raj Shrestha said the increasing sightings of the Rajalahanche across Kailali are a positive development for biodiversity conservation.

This species of bird usually inhabits sal trees taller than 30 feet and is known to breed in groups. The species typically lives in small flocks. 

According to Dangoura, a significant population is also found in the Basanta Corridor (Barka Banwa) forest area. He stressed the need for detailed studies on the species in Kailali to better understand its habitat use and conservation needs.