07 Oct, 2025

A Wild Comeback: Painted Storks Reunited in Kaziranga National Park

After not being seen for a good four years, the elegant and distinctive creatures, Painted Storks, have been spotted again in Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The conservationists and local authorities are characterizing this significant return as a hopeful ecological sign. Previously, the storks were last observed nesting in the park back in 2021, and their presence in October 2025 is indicative of successful wetland restoration and habitat improvements in the park. Assam’s Chief Minister Heemanta Biswa Sarma described this comeback as an example of “nature heals when we protect it."

Birds in the Limelight: Painted Storks Profile

• The painted stork, scientifically known as Mycteria leucocephala, is a large wading bird that is easily recognized by its pale, rose-pink tertial feathers, striking black-and-white plumage, and an elongated yellow-orange bill.
• The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) now classifies the Painted Stork as a species of Least Concern. It once held the status of Near Threatened, but time has improved its population. However, this bird is still facing challenges because many of its wetland habitats are diminishing and getting polluted.
• Global estimates of mature individuals are between 20,000 and 60,000.

Painted Storks’ Rediscovery, Historical Records and Current Challanges

• On October 3, 2025, an extraordinary event in ornithology was recorded as a pair of Painted Storks were spotted in Kaziranga National Park.
• This was significant as there has been no recorded nesting or visitation of this species in Kaziranga National Park over the preceding 3-4 years. The last bona fide record of the birds in the park, was in the year 2021. With Sonali Ghosh (field director) indicating these bird sightings in Kaziranga an extremely rare event.
• One observation does not guarantee reoccurring visits or nesting; continued monitoring is the need of the hour, as wetlands are still at risk from changes in their water regime, contamination, and encroachment. Additionally, ensuring tourism, human activity, and the management of parks are compatible with the habitat requirements of the birds is utterly essential as well.

Symbolising Conservation and Ecological Importance

The stork's reappearance is finely exemplifying the abundance of healthy wetlands with respect to water and food (fish, aquatic life). Their arrival after a four-year absence demonstrates that the restoration and management activities of wetlands and habitats in Kaziranga are favorable to avian species that were formerly displaced from the area due to disturbance or degradation. This enhances the birding and biodiversity credentials of Kaziranga and contributes to their role beyond rhino conservation.

Conclusion: A Potential for Avian Species to Thrive

The return of the painted stork to Kaziranga after a four-year gap is a positive indication that all of the protected lands and management actions for habitat restoration are starting to gain traction. While it is still early for over-optimism, it does tantalizingly suggest the possibility that Kaziranga’s wetlands may again support a larger array of birdlife. With continued stewardship of the habitats, the Painted Stork may be able to become a regular inhabitant of Kaziranga’s National Park.