Bird hunting and trade pose major threats to avifauna in the Indian subcontinent. Although prohibited under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, bird poaching has continued, driven primarily by demand from the pet trade, traditional medicine, and cultural beliefs. This study systematically reviewed literature on the socioeconomic and ethnozoological drivers of bird hunting, and trade across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Around 124 publications were analysed to examine bird use, socioeconomic drivers, and poaching trends. Keywords including “zootherapy,” “ethnozoology,” “traditional uses”, and “bird trade” were used to identify relevant studies on bird hunting with Google Search, Scopus, and Web of Science. A linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the sub-national human development index and the number of species hunted at the state level, while, factors like indigenous population size, and state gross production per capita did not significantly impact hunting prevalence. A chi-square test for independence revealed that subsistence hunting in India was less than expected, with cultural, and commercial factors being more significant drivers of hunting. The pet trade was a key driver of poaching in India and Bangladesh, while traditional falconry in Pakistan severely affected raptor populations. A strong positive correlation was found between the number of studies per state and reported hunting prevalence, highlighting geographical, and temporal biases in research. A more comprehensive analysis is needed to fully understand bird hunting patterns, integrating government seizure records, NGO rescue data, CITES trade data, and online media sources.
Banerjee Ak (Sun,) studied this question.