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Mark Billiau.


Premium (World), region Antwerp, Belgium

Bar-headed Goose

This bar-headed goose was enjoying a bit of the last autumn sunshine.

This goose breeds in Central Asia in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes and migrates over the Himalayas to spend the winter in parts of South Asia.

It is one of the world's highest-flying birds, having been seen flying across Mount Everest (8848m) and Mount Makalu (8481m).

In the 18th century, this goose has been introduced by man in Canada and Spain and feral populations of this species have been established in several European countries as a result of specimen that escaped from captivity.

Between 20 and 25 breeding pairs are thought to be present in Belgium and a breeding population is also known in Finland.

Those feral populations are believed to be declining in Europe due to over-hunting

Dutch name : Indische gans (ook Streepkopgans genoemd)
German name : Streifengans (auch Indische Gans genannt)
Latin name : Anser indicus

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