Hanuman plover makes a comeback as a species after 86 years - Natural History Museum
The Hanuman plover has been reinstated almost a century after being relegated to a subspecies.
Named after a Hindu god, it is hoped that resurrecting the species will focus conservation attention on at-risk habitats.
A species of shorebird has finally come out of the shadow of its close relative.
In the 1930s, the Hanuman plover, Charadrius seebohmi, was merged into the Kentish plover as both species were considered to be the same. The advent of DNA sequencing has now allowed scientists to confirm subtle differences between the groups that are enough to split them apart once again.
The researchers hope that by resurrecting the species, which lives in Sri Lanka and southern India, conservation funding will be used to help protect the area's threatened wetlands. These habitats are highly biodiverse and provide important overwintering sites for migrating birds.
Dr Alex Bond, who co-authored the study and is Principal Curator and Curator in Charge of Birds at the Museum, says, 'While we don't know if the Hanuman plover is threatened at the moment, it lives in an area which has one of the highest human population densities on the planet. Having a name attached to these birds means it is easier for policymakers and politicians to notice these plovers and take any steps needed to help them.'
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Posted On: 17/04/2023