Alien birds threaten Himalayan biodiversity: Researchers

By Vishal Gulati New Delhi, Jan 25 : Alien birds are spreading across southeast Asia and could reach India — either due to escaping captivity or after being intentionally released, researchers with the University College London (UCL) warned on Monday.
In a study published in ‘Nature Ecology & Evolution’, researchers show how the alien species such as the zebra dove are a threat to India, as the Himalayas are particularly prone to the spread of non-native birds.
Native in some of the Southeast Asian countries, the zebra dove (Geopelia Striata) has spread across the region. Now it has alien population in Thailand and Laos, among other countries.
The study says once a bird has established itself as an alien species in a new region, living alongside native birds, it is most likely to continue spreading to other areas where those same native birds are present.
The study improves on the existing methods to predict the spread of alien species.
The researchers found that areas such as the Himalayas and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, which so far have not seen many alien species, could be under threat in the coming decades.