Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis (Family Otididae, Order Gruiformes) is a highly threatened and rare ground nesting bird species inhabiting in Nepal, India, Cambodia and Vietnam with a world population of only 250-999. It has two sub species: Houbaropsis bengalensis bengalensis which exists in India and Nepal and Houbaropsis bengalensis blandini which subsists in Cambodia and Vietnam. In Nepal the population is estimated between 65 and 100 individuals. In Nepal, this bustard occurs in alluvial grasslands dominated by Imperata cylindrica in Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Barrage area. It is listed as a Critically Endangered species in the IUCN Red List category because of its small and rapidly declining population due to widespread loss of grassland habitat in its range. The legal status of this globally threatened species in Nepal is Protected (Appendix I) under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and Appendix I in CITES law.
For more information:- Inskipp et al. 2016.
