In a boost to Assam's ecology and conservation efforts, the painted stork has returned to Kaziranga after nearly four years. Sharing a picture of the migratory bird, which has become rare over the last decade, Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said: "Kaziranga welcomes an old guest after 4 years. The elegant migratory Painted Storks (Mycteria leucocephala) have made a comeback to Kaziranga's skies, soaring once again over our wetlands." Sarma said that this was proof that nature heals when we protect it. Another win for our conservation efforts. Growth of the Painted stork: From 'Near Threatened' to 'Least Concern' The painted stork's return was spotted some time ago this year, but the sightings have been rare. The bird was last assessed for 'The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2023' and was classified as 'Least Concern' due to the increasing trend of its population. It was earlier classified as 'Near Threatened'. The IUCN puts the number of matured individuals at 20,000-60,000.
