Climate Change Threat to Nilgiri Wood Pigeon

A recent study published warns that climate change could drastically shrink the habitat of the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon by the end of the century.

• The model predicts sharp declines in high-suitability habitats and significant range contraction by 2081-2100.
• The pigeon inhabits high-elevation wet evergreen and moist deciduous forests, especially in the Nilgiris and Anamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Isolated populations are also found in the Biligirirangan Hills, Nandi Hills and parts of northern Maharashtra.
• These montane ecosystems, known as “sky islands”, are biodiversity-rich but highly vulnerable to climate shifts.
• The species has a restricted elevational range, patchy distribution and dependence on undisturbed forest ....