Australian Diamond Dove Spotted in Assam for the First Time, Raising Concerns Over Exotic Pet Trade

In a rare ornithological discovery, researchers have documented the first-ever sighting of the Australian Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata) in Assam. The birds were spotted in the Runikhata range of the recently notified Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in the Kokrajhar district. The sighting, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Threatened Taxa on February 26, 2026, involved two individuals observed foraging on the ground near a dried-up stream.

While the Diamond Dove is a common resident of the arid landscapes of Australia and is listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, it is not native to South Asia. Researchers, including Bibhash Sarkar and Bijay Basfore, concluded that the birds are almost certainly escapees or intentional releases from the global cage-bird industry, where they are popular for their small size and ornamental plumage.