A rare white stork (Ciconia ciconia) has been spotted at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary on the Delhi-Noida border since November 1, attracting birdwatchers and wildlife photographers.
The species was last recorded in NCR near Jewar in March 2019. Birders say there have been only four sightings in the region in nearly three decades.
First spotted by birder Dr Tejaswi Surya, the bird is believed to possibly belong to the rare Central Asian subspecies Ciconia ciconia asiatica, whose global population is estimated at fewer than 2,000.
The long-distance migratory bird has a white body, black wing feathers, a red bill and red legs. Its sighting highlights the importance of protecting wetlands such as Okhla, which provide crucial habitats for migratory birds.
