The Kanger Valley National Park in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh is a mysterious place dotted with caves, waterfalls and dense forests. The protected area notified in 1982 is also famous for the Bastar hill mynah (Gracula religiosa peninsularis), a species placed under Schedule 1 (b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Chhattisgarh government declared it as the state bird in 2002.
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 Bastar hill mynah is endemic to the Kanger Valley National Park, where the felling of several dry trees for cultivation and…