|
Project update
- November 2006
Drought may
hit Kaziranga species
From Prabal Kr Das
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL
PARK, Nov 11 - The wetlands, locally called beels, inside Kaziranga
play host to numerous migratory birds every winter. This year,
however, this ancient phenomenon could witness changes. The scarcity
of rainfall this monsoon led to a lack of floodwater and the national
park did not replenish its wetlands, which number around 200.
Many of them are covered with water hyacinth and would have witnessed
reduced breeding of fish.
It is the fish in the wetlands like Sohola,
Laodubi, Boisamari which sustain a large number of avifauna, both
resident and migratory. Experts predict that less fish this season
will have a detrimental impact on the birds, which touch down
after travelling thousands of kilometres,.
According to the director of Kaziranga National
Park, Daya Mangal Singh, the proliferation of water hyacinth inside
the park is a real worry. "Less rainfall this year and the
near future will bring new challenges," he said.
He stated that increased funds will have
to be spent in removing water hyacinth. Less rainfall over a longer
period will affect the quantity and quality of the grassland inside
the park
Singh showed the reporter a patch of grassland
near the Kathpora watchtower and remarked that receding water
was creating space for new grassland. If the phenomenon continues,
the landscape will look very different in future.
However, along with the change in landscape,
the habitat of many species will be modified and it will be interesting
to note how different species dependent on wetlands adapted themselves
to new situations.
The reduction in wetlands could also have
a detrimental effect on the famed one-horned rhino of the park.
With a population close to 2000, the species would face hard times
if the water bodies continue to recede any further.
As a step to protect them and ensure their
ecological functioning, the Forest Department is now supervising
the removal of water hyacinth from a few wetlands ensuring that
some of them at least will be able to host a large number of migratory
birds.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, Dr Bibhab
Talukdar of Aaranyak, said that there was an urgent need to study
the wetlands of Kaziranga. The quality, turbidity, and siltation
pattern of the ecological spaces especially could reveal a lot
of valuable knowledge, he believes.
"Wetlands and the surrounding ecosystem
have intricate links. One cannot be understood without appreciating
the role of the other," Dr Talukdar said. He favoured an
ecosystem approach of study that should reveal new information
on species other than those already quite populous in the park.
Kaziranga National Park, a good part of
which is the Brahmaputra flood plain, contains nearly seven per
cent wetland, and 67 per cent grassland with the remaining part
as woodland and sand bars. However, biologists point out that
the greatest species diversity is observed in and around the wetlands.
Every little contribution helps wildlife
and remember 100% of your donation will go in full to the project - thank you!
You can also help by becoming a member
of DSWF. Click here for more information
top of page
|
