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Not globally threatened. Has suffered several reductions in number and in several parts of range has become extremely local. Wintering population in W Palearctic estimated at 50,000 in mid 1980's, mostly in C Mediterranean area; average of 300 wintering birds in Israel. USSR breeding population evaluated at c. 140,000 pairs in 1970 but had fallen down to c. 5200 pairs in 1984. Winter 1991 census yielded 95 birds in Saudi Arabia, 598 in Iran, 9000 in Azerbaijan and 20,833 in Turkmenistan; in several localities of Pakistan, more than 100 birds counted; largest concentrations, from available data, correspond to Hail Haor, Sylhet, Bangladesh, where up to 4000-5000 birds counted in years with good growth of aquatic vegetation; maximum available figures in India of 630 counted in 17 lakes in Central Rajasthan in Nov 1982, and 670 in Khijadia Lakes, Gujarat recently. Wintering census in tropical Africa yielded maximum of 6450, with estimated 7000-10,000 in W Africa; L Horo, Mali seems to be the most important refuge. Decline is mainly attributed to habitat destruction; however, the species also pays heavy toll to hunting pressure. Urgent need to establish network of appropriate reserves. Cites III in Ghana.   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 1992)

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