A nematode infestation has led to mass mortality of spot-billed pelicans (Pelicanus philippensis) at Telineelapuram Important Bird Area (IBA) in Andhra Pradesh.

Spot-billed Pelicans

• The spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) or grey pelican is a member of the pelican family.
• It breeds in southern Asia from southern Iran across India east to Indonesia.
• It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially large lakes.
• The breeding population of these pelican species is limited to India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
• In the non-breeding season they are recorded in Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Conservation status

• IUCN status: Near Threatened
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV (Hunting prohibited but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules)

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