Sanctuary Asia — January 2018

More at http://www.sanctuaryasia.com | Natural History

Pink-headed Duck

This bird makes it to the list of animals, which have not yet offi cially been declared extinct. However, it is more than likely

that it is so as years have rolled by without any positive news of its presence. This species is a rather unique waterfowl with

vivid plumage adorning a long and graceful neck, making it the only game bird to display a large area of pink feathers. Never

reported as abundant since being described by science, it went into a declining spiral from the 19th century onwards. The main

reason for the rapid reduction of its numbers seems to be over-hunting as it was prized as a trophy bird. A massive increase in

human population in the lowland wetland areas that it inhabited leading to signifi cant habitat loss also added to its decline.

This species has not conclusively been recorded anywhere in the wild since 1949. The only reason why it remains

assessed as Critically Endangered and not extinct is the fact that it is a very shy species preferring

well-hidden lowland forest pools and tall grasslands. Conjecture that the species may be

crepuscular or even nocturnal makes any small remnant populations even harder to locate in

remote forests.

Scientifi c name: Rhodonessa caryophyllacea

Range: Mainly found in eastern India, Nepal and Bangladesh with some records from Myanmar

Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Last confi rmed sighting: 1949

Cause of decline: Habitat loss, hunting and other anthropogenic factors

Namdapha Flying Squirrel

Only known from one specimen collected from Namdapha National Park in 1981, this unique and gorgeous fl ying squirrel

has never ever been recorded since, aside from some casual reports in 2002. Assessed by IUCN as Critically Endangered

based on extremely restricted range and lack of any recent information, it is not unlikely that this very

special squirrel may have fallen victim to local hunters. Hope remains mainly because

the species is nocturnal and arboreal making it hard to locate in its dense dry deciduous,

montane forest habitat.

Scientifi c name: Biswamoyopterus biswasi

Range: Restricted to a single valley in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh

Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Last confi rmed sighting: 1981

Cause of decline: Hunting for the pot and habitat degradation

Malabar Large-spotted Civet

This animal’s very identity seems to be in doubt and, understandably so, as it has no documented ‘last seen’ date. Also

known as the Malabar civet, it was described by Edward Blyth in 1862. Some suggest that this is not a valid species
at all and represents a feral population of escaped large-spotted civets Viverra megaspila introduced from Southeast

Asia. Why anyone would release these civets in the Malabar region in the 1800s is a healthy topic for discussion, but

for now this species is considered a valid taxon, and one that is Critically Endangered. Very little is known about this

animal as it was never abundant and was in terminal decline since the
1960s. There are some recent unconfi rmed reports of sightings, which

off er hope that the species still survives in the wild. That is, if it is a
unique species at all, and not an introduced exotic!

Scientifi c name: Viverra civettina
Range: Endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India

Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Last confi rmed sighting: No certain date is available. Last credible report is from 1990
Cause of decline: Habitat loss and hunting for civet-musk