Guwahati, May 28 -- Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha

Guwahati: The sighting of a lone Lesser Adjutant Stork at Bill Pathar wetland near Saikhowa Ghat on the fringes of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has sparked concern among bird enthusiasts and conservationists over the declining population of the near-threatened species in Upper Assam.

Locals said the solitary bird has been regularly seen foraging in the marshy wetland throughout the day and has become a familiar presence in the area.

Residents recalled that Lesser Adjutant Storks were once commonly spotted in groups around wetlands and riverine grasslands, but such sightings have now become increasingly uncommon due to shrinking habitats and rising human interference in floodplain ecosyst...