After 46 years, rare bird resurfaces in Ladakh’s Suru Valley

Kargil, July 15: The elusive Long-billed Bush Warbler (Locustella major), long thought to be lost from the region, has been officially sighted in Ladakh’s picturesque Suru Valley—its first confirmed sighting in India since 1979.The remarkable rediscovery occurred at an altitude of 3,200 metres near the Sankoo village in Kargil district, where a five-member birding team—Harish Thangaraj, Lt Gen Bhupesh K. Goyal, Manjula Desai, Rigzin Nubu, and Irfan Jeelani—undertook a dedicated expedition in search of the species, often dubbed the “lost bird” of the Himalayas.Their patience and preparation paid off when they traced the Warbler by its distinctive insect-like “click-click-click” call, eventually spotting it perched on a willow tree amid terraced farmland. Visual and audio confirmations were documented, marking not only the bird’s rediscovery but also expanding the scientific understanding of its preferred habitat.In a post on “X” DGAFMS-MoD said,” In a significant milestone for Indian biodiversity, the Long-billed Bush Warbler, last documented sighting in India in 1979 and considered lost, has been rediscovered in Suru Valley by a team led by Lt Gen Bhupesh K Goyal, along with Shri Harish Thangaraj and three others. This rare and remarkable sighting is the result of sustained field effort in a challenging terrain and stands as a testament to the #IndianArmedForces’ enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and the cause of wildlife conservation”.The expedition’s success is being hailed as a milestone in Indian biodiversity conservation and a powerful example of citizen science in action. The involvement of Lt Gen Bhupesh K. Goyal also underlines the growing role of the Indian Armed Forces in environmental protection and wildlife conservation in high-altitude ecosystems.This rediscovery not only brings hope for the species’ survival but also shines a light on the ecological richness of the Suru Valley, calling for greater attention to its conservation.