Pokkhi: Assam’s Digital Bird Repository

Why in News?

Assam has launched “Pokkhi”, the state’s first comprehensive digital bird repository, aimed at documenting and promoting the rich avian diversity of the state. The portal currently features 372 bird species with information available in both Assamese and English, making bird knowledge more accessible to researchers, students, birdwatchers, and the general public.

Key Highlights

• Pokkhi is Assam’s first dedicated online bird database.
• The portal currently documents 372 bird species found across the state.
• Information is available in two languages:
  • Assamese
  • English
• Each bird profile includes:
  • High-quality photographs
  • Assamese and English common names
  • Scientific name
  • Identification features
  • Habitat and distribution
  • Behaviour and ecological importance
  • IUCN Conservation Status
• The initiative seeks to preserve Assamese bird nomenclature while promoting biodiversity awareness and conservation.

Objectives

• Digitally document Assam’s avian diversity.
• Promote environmental education among students and citizens.
• Preserve traditional Assamese names of birds.
• Assist researchers, conservationists, and birdwatchers.
• Encourage public participation in biodiversity conservation.

Why is Assam Important for Bird Diversity?

Assam is one of India’s richest biodiversity hotspots due to its extensive wetlands, forests, grasslands, and river ecosystems.

• Around 820 bird species have been recorded in Assam, making it one of India’s richest states in terms of bird diversity.
• It hosts numerous resident and migratory birds.
• The state contains globally important bird habitats such as:
  • Kaziranga National Park
  • Manas National Park
  • Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
  • Nameri National Park
  • Deepor Beel (Ramsar Site)
  • Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Significance

Environmental

• Supports biodiversity documentation.
• Promotes conservation of threatened bird species.
• Creates awareness regarding habitat protection.

Educational

• Useful resource for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Encourages citizen science and birdwatching.

Cultural

• Preserves indigenous Assamese bird names.
• Connects local communities with traditional ecological knowledge.

Digital Governance

• Demonstrates the use of digital technology for wildlife conservation.
• Aligns with India’s broader Digital India and biodiversity documentation initiatives.

IUCN Conservation Status

The portal includes the IUCN Red List status of each species, which categorizes species based on their risk of extinction.

Major categories include:

• Least Concern (LC)
• Near Threatened (NT)
• Vulnerable (VU)
• Endangered (EN)
• Critically Endangered (CR)
• Extinct in the Wild (EW)
• Extinct (EX)

Practice MCQs

1. “Pokkhi”, recently seen in the news, is:

A. A bird census programme of the Government of India
B. Assam’s first digital bird repository documenting bird species
C. A migratory bird conservation treaty among Northeast states
D. An AI-based wildlife surveillance drone

Answer: B

2. The Pokkhi portal provides information primarily in which two languages?

A. Hindi and English
B. Assamese and English
C. Assamese and Bengali
D. English and Bodo

Answer: B

3. Which international organization publishes the global conservation status of species featured on the Pokkhi portal?

A. UNESCO
B. WWF
C. IUCN
D. UNEP

Answer: C

4. Which of the following is a Ramsar Site in Assam?

A. Keoladeo National Park
B. Deepor Beel
C. Loktak Lake
D. Chilika Lake

Answer: B