Introduction of Certain Birds in the Andaman Islands during 1960-65

Abstract

The topographical features of the Andaman&Nicobar Islands have been described. The peculiarities and the paucity of the avifauna of the Islands have been stated. The attempts of the Andamans Forest Department in introducing peafowls, partridges, quails, and spotbill ducks in the Ross Island, spotbill ducks and comb ducks in the Neill Island and openbilled storks in the South Andaman Island during 1960-65 have been narrated. While the introduction of peafowls in the Ross Island and the spotbill and comb ducks in the Neill Island have been successful in that the birds established themselves and been to multiply, it has not been possible to obtain the same measure of success in the other cases due to one reason or other. The various problems involved in such introduction of birds in the Islands like procurement, upkeep, packing, transport and shortage of funds have been discussed. The scope for future work in the Islands has been indicated.