A large stork with a pinkish head and neck, a white neck ruff, and a hanging pouch on the chest.
Its pinkish head and neck, white neck ruff, and drooping throat pouch stand out against a dark gray back.
Greater Adjutants nest in colonies and scavenge in India and elsewhere. In Assam, bones and droppings beneath nests led some landowners to cut nesting trees.
Purnima Devi Barman and local women protect nests and help injured birds. Support for stork-patterned textiles, songs and festivals connects conservation with livelihoods and cultural pride.
A 2024 funder account describes plans to expand work across India and Cambodia. Retaining nesting trees and community participation remain linked priorities.
IUCN Red List (conservation institution account) · Near Threatened · Global
Wetland loss and degradation and felling of nesting trees are pressures. Communities protect nests, assist rescued birds, clean wetlands and plant trees. BirdLife reported the global category changed to Near Threatened in 2023.