Greater adjutant – The Fading Scavenger The Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) stork is a huge bird with a wingspan of about 8 feet and is mainly a scavenger, but also an opportunistic feeder. The English name is derived from their firm military gait when walking on the ground (In military parlance, an adjutant is a senior captain who stands at attention in front of his superiors)..... In the breeding season, the pouch and neck become bright orange. The pendant-like inflatable pouch on its neck connects to the air passages and is not connected to the digestive tract. The exact function is unknown, but it is not involved in food storage as was sometimes believed. The bright orange-red you see in this image is not the (head) “cap”, but the protrusion near its shoulders (see the link for more images). mynaturestories.wordpress/2014/09/10/greater-adjutant-the-fading-scavenger/ Once abundant in most parts of India and South-east India, this species is struggling for its survival with just about 1000 individuals left in the world. There are only 3 breeding sites worldwide including Assam, Bhagalpur (Bihar) and in Cambodia. The Indian population is threatened by reduced access to carcasses and comparatively better sanitation...... In the 19th century, they were particularly common in the city of Calcutta during the summer and rainy season, where they were known as Calcutta Adjutants. Known locally as hargila (derived from the Sanskrit word-hadda-gilla-for bone-swallower). Infact, the old emblem of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation included two adjutant storks facing each other. They were considered to be efficient scavengers and an act was passed to protect them. Anyone who killed the bird had to pay a fine of fifty rupees. At that time, they were valued as scavengers - which benefited the Citys sanitation - and their image was incorporated in the logo of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. Most of the Greater Adjutant population in Assam are now confined in and around the Guwahatti dumping ground, where they compete with human garbage lifters. (Info Source: Internet) Place: Guwahati Dumping Ground, Assam Date: 8.3.2014 Camera: Canon 40D Lens: Canon 100-400mm
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:08:55 +0000
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