Laggar Falcon habitat loss : Environment for UPSC Exams
Laggar Falcon habitat loss : Environment for UPSC Exams
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The laggar falcon (Falco jugger) is a mid-sized bird of prey which occurs in the Indian subcontinent from extreme south-east Iran, south-east Afghanistan, Pakistan, through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and north-west Myanmar.
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They are Near Threatened species as per IUCN.
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They are an Indigenous raptor species with white and grey plumage which can hunt and fly at speeds of 180kmph.
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Indiscriminate sand mining and Granite quarrying in Madurai have caused habitat loss to them.
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The species nest only on rock cliffs unreachable to humans.
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Due to sand quarrying Madurai lost its Vaigai based biodiversity.
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Stone quarrying in Keezhavazhavu and Melavazhavu have caused habitat loss to eagles, falcons and owls.
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Felling of palm trees in these areas, which is a nesting spot of many raptor species, is also one of the reasons for the disappearance of the birds.