• The Kanger Valley National Park in Chhattisgarh is famous for the Bastar hill mynah, a subspecies of the common hill mynah which is protected under Schedule 1 (b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

“PSIR Answer Writing” course visit www.upschacks.com

• The bird is endemic to the Kanger Valley National Park where the felling of several dry trees for cultivation, especially sal, and infrastructure development activities has put the species in danger.
• The forest department along with conservationists is planning to further study the bird and make efforts                   towards conservation activities for the protection of the bird population.
• The jet black coloured bird mimics the human voice exceptionally well.
• For this reason, it is often found in cages and sold as pets in the market. The distribution range of the common hill mynah includes India, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the South East Asian islands. There are 12 sub-species that are very similar but separated by their distribution range, according to a 2020 study. In India, four sub-species of the common hill mynah are found.
• The common hill mynah nests in colonies, along with parrots and woodpeckers.
• Holes made by woodpeckers in dry sal (Shorea robusta) trees are preferred by the common hill mynah. In Bastar specifically, there are 11 resident woodpecker species that make holes regularly in several trees. The common hill mynah surveys each hole and then chooses a nest after multiple visits.