First record of the Diamond Dove <Geopelia cuneata>, an Australian endemic, in Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, Assam, India

The Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata, an Australian endemic, was recorded from Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, Assam, India. As the species does not occur naturally in South Asia, its presence is most plausibly explained as an escape or release from captivity, given its widespread use in the cage-bird trade. While many escapees fail to persist, repeated introductions may facilitate adaptation and establishment, posing risks of competition, ecological disruption, and disease transmission to native avifauna. This record highlights the need for continuous monitoring of exotic bird escapees and stricter regulation of the bird trade in India to safeguard native biodiversity