Last Updated: 05th February 2017
06:26 AM | A+A A- |
BENGALURU: A haven for thousands
of migratory birds and hundreds of species, Ankasamudra Lake, just 1 km
away from the Tungabhadra backwaters, has been declared a ‘Birds Conservation
Reserve’ as per Section 36 A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This will be
the first such reserve in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
As per the government order dated
January 31, the Ankasamudra Birds Conservation Reserve will be located in
Ankasamudra village, Hagaribommanahalli taluk in Ballari. Spread across 244
acres, it will comprise the entire tank bund area in Survey no. 203 in this village
but excludes enclosures and patta lands.
What makes it a reserve?
This has been declared as a
reserve for its ecologicy, fauna, flora and geo-morphologic importance and for
the purpose of protecting, propagating and developing wildlife or its environment
and to protect the important breeding habitats of migratory birds and other
local species.
The tank bund area is a unique
habitat of migratory birds and other species which are listed in various
schedules of Wildlife Protection Act. The order says the birds are under threat
of poaching, destruction of nests and eggs and so there is a need to protect
the habitats of both resident and migratory species.
Bird conservationist Vijay Ittigi
who has been documenting them for the last 4-5 years, said, “There are 175
species (of bird)and even 11 species from the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List in and around Ankasamudra. Unfortunately, trees
are being cut. Further, encroachment in the upstream areas of the lake results
in drying up of the lake. There is a need to put a 250 hp motor to draw water
from the Venkavadoota Yeta Neeravari so that the lake has water for birds.”
