Vengurla
Rocks, a marine bird breeding and nesting site in Sindhudurg district, is
likely to be recognised as a protected conservation zone by the state. This
will help stave off risk that birds at the site face from poachers. Vengurla
Rocks has been listed as one of five locations in
India with
potential to be listed as Important Bird Area (IBA), the Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS) has told BirdLife International, a global alliance of
conservation organisations working together for birds and people.
More than one lakh Indian Swiftlets or, the Indian Edible-nest Swiftlet, visit
and breed at Vengurla Rocks – also known as the Burnt Island. Experts said eggs
of the Indian Swiftlet are used to make nest soup in West Asia.
“These
birds build their nests in caves and there have been cases when poachers were
arrested for collecting the eggs by erecting bamboo scaffoldings. This site
therefore needs to be protected,” said Raju Kasambe, head, IBA programme for
BNHS.
The other
potential IBAs in Indian waters include Pitti Island and Beleapani Reef in
Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar and Point Calimere - Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu.
Declaring these sites as marine IBAs will ensure conservation efforts by the government. “Sea birds do not come on land, except during the breeding season. Protecting these islands is therefore important because it means protecting their nesting sites and thereby allowing them to multiply,” said Kasambe.
Declaring these sites as marine IBAs will ensure conservation efforts by the government. “Sea birds do not come on land, except during the breeding season. Protecting these islands is therefore important because it means protecting their nesting sites and thereby allowing them to multiply,” said Kasambe.
These
potential Indian sites figure in the e-Atlas of Marine Important Bird Areas,
which is the first global inventory of important sites for the conservation of
marine species.
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