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{{Short description|Protected area in Bihar, India}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = IV
| image =
| image_caption =
| map = India Bihar#India
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| mapframe-zoom = 10
| nearest_city = [[Darbhanga]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.darbhangaonline.in/guide/kusheshwar-asthan-bird-sanctuary-in-darbhanga|title=Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary, Exotic Wildlife in Darbhanga|work=Darbhanga Online|access-date=1 Jul 2025}}</ref>
| coordinates = {{coord|25|49|53|N|86|18|15|E|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| established = 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-04/9%20Compendium%20Book_2021_Low%20%281%29%20%282%29.pdf|title=National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India (2021)|work=Ministry of Tourism, Government of India|access-date=1 Jul 2025}}</ref>
| governing_body = Bihar Forest Department<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2017/184239.pdf|title=Final Notification—Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary|work=Gazette of India|date=22 Aug 2017|access-date=1 Jul 2025}}</ref>
| website =
| elevation = 49 m<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.darbhangaonline.in/guide/kusheshwar-asthan-bird-sanctuary-in-darbhanga|title=Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary, Exotic Wildlife in Darbhanga|work=Darbhanga Online|access-date=1 Jul 2025}}</ref>
| iucn_ref =
| area_km2 = 29.17<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-04/9%20Compendium%20Book_2021_Low%20%281%29%20%282%29.pdf|title=National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India (2021)|work=Ministry of Tourism, Government of India|access-date=1 Jul 2025}}</ref>
| footnotes =
}}

'''Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary''' is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in the [[Darbhanga district]] in the Indian state of [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite web |title=National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India (2021) |url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-04/9%20Compendium%20Book_2021_Low%20%281%29%20%282%29.pdf |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Ministry of Tourism, Government of India}}</ref> The sanctuary is named after the nearby [[Kusheshwar Asthan|Kusheshwar Asthan temple]], a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 Jan 2021 |title=Temple town draws devotees, birdwatchers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/temple-town-draws-devotees-birdwatchers/articleshow/80433528.cms |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Description ==
The sanctuary was officially established in 1994 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and encompasses approximately {{cvt|29.17|km2}} of predominantly waterlogged terrain across 14 villages in Kusheshwar Asthan block.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 Aug 2017 |title=Final Notification—Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2017/184239.pdf |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Gazette of India}}</ref> It lies in the northern Gangetic plains at an average elevation of 49 m above sea level and is sustained by seasonal monsoon rains and overflow from the [[Kamala River|Kamla River]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary, Exotic Wildlife in Darbhanga |url=https://www.darbhangaonline.in/guide/kusheshwar-asthan-bird-sanctuary-in-darbhanga |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Darbhanga Online}}</ref>

== Flora and fauna ==
The sanctuary features shallow wetlands, marshes, and surrounding grasslands with aquatic vegetation such as water hyacinth and local grasses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary—A Haven for Migratory Birds |url=https://wildlifetravellers.org/kusheshwar-asthan-bird-sanctuary/ |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Wildlife Travellers Blog}}</ref>
It serves as the winter refugia for over 15 endangered migratory species—including the [[Dalmatian pelican|Dalmatian Pelican]] (''Pelecanus crispus''), [[Siberian crane|Siberian Crane]] (''Leucogeranus leucogeranus''), [[Bar-headed goose|Bar-headed Goose]] (''Anser indicus''), and [[Oriental darter|Indian Darter]] (''Anhinga melanogaster'')—which arrive from [[Siberia]], [[Mongolia]], [[Tibet]], and [[Central Asia]] between October and March.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary—A Haven for Migratory Birds |url=https://wildlifetravellers.org/kusheshwar-asthan-bird-sanctuary/ |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Wildlife Travellers Blog}}</ref>
Resident avifauna include [[Indian peafowl|Indian Peafowl]] (''Pavo cristatus''), [[Grey heron|Grey Heron]] (''Ardea cinerea''), and the endemic [[Ruddy shelduck|Brahminy Duck]] (''Tadorna ferruginea'').<ref>{{cite news |title=Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary—A Haven for Migratory Birds |url=https://wildlifetravellers.org/kusheshwar-asthan-bird-sanctuary/ |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Wildlife Travellers Blog}}</ref>

== Conservation and management ==
In August 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the final notification declaring a 10 km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the sanctuary to regulate developmental activities and protect habitat integrity.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 Aug 2017 |title=Final Notification—Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary |url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2017/184239.pdf |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Gazette of India}}</ref> Despite legal safeguards, a 2019 report highlighted rapid shrinkage of wetlands due to agricultural encroachment and water diversion, raising alarms over the sanctuary’s carrying capacity for migratory birds.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 Jun 2019 |title=Bihar wasted wetlands ring alarm bells for birds |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/bihar-wasted-wetlands-ring-alarm-bells-for-birds/story-8KvQmWvED9Z2JkfzTvevjM.html |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Local media also reported ongoing cultivation on sanctuary lands and delays in infrastructure improvements, prompting fresh appeals for stricter enforcement of protection orders.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 Jul 2024 |title=अभयारण्य में हो रही खेती, पक्षी अब कम आते हैं |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/darbhanga/kusheshwar-asthan/news/the-system-is-seeing-birds-here-but-on-paper-it-is-a-bird-sanctuary-133157833.html |access-date=1 Jul 2025 |work=Dainik Bhaskar}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2017/184239.pdf Final ESZ notification—Gazette of India]
* [https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-04/9%20Compendium%20Book_2021_Low%20%281%29%20%282%29.pdf National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India (2021) – Ministry of Tourism]
* [https://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/bihar-wasted-wetlands-ring-alarm-bells-for-birds/story-8KvQmWvED9Z2JkfzTvevjM.html Bihar wasted wetlands ring alarm bells for birds – Hindustan Times]
* [https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/darbhanga/kusheshwar-asthan/news/the-system-is-seeing-birds-here-but-on-paper-it-is-a-bird-sanctuary-133157833.html अभयारण्य में हो रही खेती, पक्षी अब कम आते हैं – Dainik Bhaskar]

{{Protected Areas of India}}

[[Category:Darbhanga district]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Bihar]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Bihar]]

Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary - Revision history

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