The forests in the Darjeeling hills and the foothills are a paradise for birdwatchers, said Anil Kumble, the former skipper of the Indian cricket team.

The cricketer visited Senchal and Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling this week. His visit has given a major boost to the state forest department for its avian conservation programme and resumption of the annual bird-watching festival that was not held in the past two years.

“I am fortunate to visit the place. While we admire the beauty, it is also our duty to conserve the habitat here because these habitats are unique in this world and there are some wonderful species of birds and animals which are endemic only to these areas. One can also see migratory birds, especially in the winter. The forest officers have done a great job in maintaining the ecosystem here,” the former ace cricketer said.

According to a source in the forest department, after visiting Senchal in the Tiger Hill area of Darjeeling, Kumble came down to Rongtong (located around 15km from Siliguri) on Thursday afternoon. He then visited the forests of Mahananda in the Shivakhola area for around three hours.

“He was keen to see hornbill in the forest. He stayed in the forest till 5pm and in this three-hour-long jungle trail, he saw various avian species which include the bee-eater, green pigeon and hill mynahs. During the visit, the cricketer could also see golden jackals in the forest,” said Sanjok Dewan, the guide instructor of Mahananda Eco-tourism and Conservation Society (METACOS), who accompanied Kumble to the forests in the foothills.

Sources said around 1,300 species of birds could be seen in India and in the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary area, which is spread over an area that covers elevation from 400 feet to 3,000 feet, around 350 bird species are found.

“Certain parts of the sanctuary have been already identified as hotspots for birdwatchers. Keeping this in mind, the forest department should adopt a policy for bird-watching tourism, which will be eco-friendly and would simultaneously help generate awareness of the conservation of birds,” said Animesh Bose, the programme coordinator of the Himalayan Nature & Adventure Foundation, a Siliguri-based organisation.

The former captain of the Indian cricket team is also known for his keen interest in bird and wildlife photography.

Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forest (wildlife-North), said Kumble’s visit to the region for bird-watching would help them in the conservation of the avian species.

“His visit to the forests of the foothills will definitely send a message to birdwatchers to visit the region. We are also planning to organise the annual bird fest which includes bird-watching sessions,” said Jakhar.