#NalSarovar not ready for bird watchers yet

If you are planning to visit Nal Sarovar for a date with migratory birds, it is not yet the perfect time to watch the winged visitors at the sanctuary located some 60 km from the city. Officials at the sanctuary said that at present, apart from a few coots and flamingos, there are hardly any birds. And the reason is that the water in the lake is some five feet deep, which is not conducive for migratory birds to find food. Usually the birds begin arriving from the last week of October, when the little water is around three feet deep.

A senior officer seeking anonymity said this year; due to good monsoon, there was good flow of water in the lake.

The officials in charge of the sanctuary said that birds are still coming in large numbers, but they leave after a day or two when they find that the water levels are too high for their liking.

However, the loss of Nal Sarovar has become a gain for nearby areas where water has accumulated. Several areas that have small water ponds find the migratory birds coming in large numbers.

For example, a small pond outside Charal village in Sanand taluka has a large presence of the migratory birds, including coots and painted storks. The small village lake is also full of these birds. Not just Charal but several villages near the lake have a large presence of these birds.

A senior official said that there should be some checks on the inflow of water to the lake even if there is excess rainfall.
He said that the birds will start coming to Nal Sarovar only after November15. At present the small make shift ponds serve as home to these birds.

Officials said that the number of birds coming to the Sanctuary have seen a constant fall.
Earlier in January when a census was conducted, it was revealed that, for the first time in the decade there was a steep fall of over 40 per cent in their numbers when compared to 2008 and 2006.

The figures recorded in 2008 and 2006 were over lakh. Officials said that the number was less than 1.5lakh in January, which means a drop of over 41 per cent as compared to 2008. In, 2008 there were 2.53 lakh birds.

Conservator of forest DS Narve said the birds are yet to make the sanctuary their permanent home for this season. There is still water in the lake, which is not suitable for the birds

Courtesy:- Times Of India, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India.

Tourists double at Gir this Diwali

Gir forest, the only sanctuary of the Asiatic lion in the world, has set a record of sorts.

Nearly 1,000 visitors have toured the sanctuary in a day every day since Diwali, after the forest authorities increased the number of tourist permits to meet the rush.

Not just locals, the number of foreign tourists too has gone up, which indicates that the aggressive marketing of the lion abode taken up by the Gujarat government in the last one year, has worked. Sandeep Kumar, deputy Conservator of forest, Sasan, estimates that the number of foreign tourists has gone up by nearly 20 per cent compared to earlier years.
Kumar attributed the huge influx of visitors to the ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ campaign featuring superstar Amitabh Bachchan by the state tourism department.
The forest officials took extra care to ensure that the visitors did not return without seeing lions, as the ad films showed the superstar amid a pride of the wildcats. “The department had identified two Additional routes apart from the existing ones. Each of these routes had a carrying capacity of 30 vehicles and thus the 90 permits issued daily were increased to 150,” said Kumar. This time 80 per cent of the visitors got to see lions. The forest has 459 lions according to the last census.

The forest department has now decided to issue more permits during festivals like Navratri, Diwali, Christmas and Uttarayan. The permit system was started only in 2000 when it was decided to have only 30 vehicles per day moving on a particular route. Only 90 vehicles carrying a maximum of six adults were allowed inside the sanctuary going by this average, the number of tourists that the forest saw this sea son is a record, and many of them had to return because the permits had exhausted.

Neeru Madan, a resident of Satellite in Ahemdabad, says hardly ten per cent of the tourists were locals. She sighted two lions during the trip. Archana Sharma, a resident of Meerut said, “We had also put up in the camp and we got the first trip in the morning. We sighted a pride of lions with two cubs.”

Courtesy:- Times Of India, Ahmadabad, Thursday, 11th Nov. 2010

Nailing it at Nal Sarovar, Gujarat, India

More needs to be done to preserve two of Gujarat’s unique #wildlifehabitats – #NalSarovar, which attracts rare migratory birds and Gir, which is the only home of #AsiaticLions.

Courtesy:- Sunday times Of India, Ahmadabad, 7th Nov. 2010.

Wild Things Threatened- #Poachers have free run of #NalSarovar?

The pristine silence that envelopes Nal Sarovar, #Gujarat, #India, one of India’s important bird sanctuaries 64 km from #Ahmadabad, is often punctured after sundown by muffled thuds. What may seem like just another bird flapping around is more likely to be a flamingo being clubbed to death by a villager for dinner.

The 120 sq km lake is home to the widest range of #migratory birds in winter, many of them flying in from Central Asia, Europe and Siberia to escape the severe cold. But it has also seen unabated poaching in recent years, especially after monsoon, when the foreign visitors start arriving. Last year, the forest department recovered 1055 nets, used to trap the birds.

Every night villagers staying near the lake, venture into the bird sanctuary, armed with small wooden clubs, otherwise used to wash clothes. A swift blow to the head of a bird does the job effectively.

Sources in the forest department say, “We have not been able to make any arrests for poaching. We only find nets strung across tall bamboo sticks to trap the birds as they fly down to the lake. Who places the nets has never been investigated.”

Forest officials admit that little is done to protect even those birds which are rescued and are often left to die. An official said many village communities consider these birds’ delicacies. However, poachers rarely do business in the birds and are used only for community feasts. Though, outsiders are not invited to these feasts. A small dead flamingo fetches not more than Rs50 while a full grown one can cost anywhere between Rs50 and Rs75.

The modus operandi is simple: A net is put up like a curtain on two poles at spots where birds swoop down on the surface of the lake. Once the bird is trapped, its wings are clipped and legs broken so that it can’t escape. Even if these birds are rescued, it’s of no use. Clubbing the birds at night is the other method.

RV Asari, principal chief Conservator of Forests says, “Yes we have recovered nets used for preaching. This is an old method. It was rampant in the past, but we have managed to curb it with increased patrolling.”

Activists and experts, however, disagree Dr Bakul Trivedi, an ornithologist who has researched the birds of Nal Sarovar, says, “Given the frequency with which nets are found, it seems obvious poaching is only growing in the sanctuary. Ironically, against the sanctioned strength of 14, there are only nine officials left to man Nal Sarovar despite its vast expanse.”

Admitting that the staff is less, a senior forest department official said Nal Sarovar is so large, it is spread over two districts of Gujarat — Ahmadabad and Surendranagar. There is nothing the 14 foresters can do against the villagers who poach with impunity.

Courtesy:- Sunday Times Of India, Ahmadabad, Nov. 7, 2010.

Steering clear: No shortcuts through #Lion Country, please

The last place one would expect to be used as a shortcut is the #Gir #Sanctuary, #Junagadh, #Gujarat, #India - the only home in the world of the #AsiaticLion. It would make more sense to burn a little fuel and skirt a protected forest than cut across it.

But the Gujarat Government, which refuses to share a single lion with any other state, does not mind a busy highway running through Gir. The distance between Visavadar to Talala towns in Junagadh is 130 km if you take the highway outside Gir. But why take this stretch when you can drive through Gir and save 52 km?

Let alone villagers, even heavy vehicles traverse on some of these stretches, making large, rattling noises and leaving behind clouds of exhaust.

In fact, there has been an increase in the inflow of uncontrolled visitors in the protected habitat in the last couple of years. The sanctuary is spread over nearly 1,500 sq km and houses 298 lions according to the last census. In all, there are 411 lions in Gir and surrounding areas. .

The sanctuary has turned into a virtual thoroughfare connecting Junagadh and Amreli. Not just the Visavadar-Dhari stretch, there are some ten roads passing through different parts of the sanctuary. At least 600 vehicles pass through the Una-Talala and Dhari-Una stretches in Gir everyday. The traffic is non-stop even at night.

The shrines and temples located in the sanctuary add to the lions’ troubles. The Kankai Mata temple, Banej, Pataleshwar Mahadev and Tulsishyam are some of the religious spots in the sanctuary which are thronged by pilgrims daily. People even spend their nights in the sanctuary on select religious festivals.

Forest officials say the ban on night stay within the sanctuary was lifted after pilgrims threw a major tantrum. People living in these shrines move about in the sanctuary unchecked.

Former principal conservator of forests and member of the National Wildlife Board,
G. A. Patel says, “#Sariska has a busy highway passing through the sanctuary which may have played a major role in the poaching of tigers. We too have several roads passing through the Gir sanctuary. There is no political will to curb the traffic. We are fighting a losing battle. Something should be done to save the big cats. There is a need for some drastic measures.”

The Dhari-Una stretch operates round the clock, while the rest are closed after sunset. Even luxury buses and trucks use it at night.

HIGHWAYS THAT PASS THROUGH GIR:-
• Visavadar-Sasan
• Jamwada-Kankai
•Jamwada-Banej
• Una-Talala
• Jamwada-Dhari
• Babariya-Banej-Patra
•Junagadh-TalaIa
• Haripur-Hirenwel
• Una-Talala
• Dhari-Una via #Tulsishyam

Courtesy:- Times Of India, Ahmadabad, 7th Nov. 2010.
Published by:- #AdlerTours&Safaris, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.

It’s roaring biz for #GirLionSanctuary, Sasan, Gujarat, India.

In a Record in the last 15 year's, Gir Sanctuary Booked for Fortnight till November 15.

The roar of lions showcased by’ #Bollywood super star Amitabh Bachchan in the #GujaratTourism campaign seems to be yielding fruitful results for the Gir Lion Sanctuary in Gujarat, India.

The sanctuary has witnessed such a good response from the tourists that it is completely booked for the fortnight till November 15 — a record in the last 15 years for this only abode of the #AsiaticLion.

Ever since the sanctuary re-opened on October 15, 2010 on an average, 70 to 80 permits were issued daily. The upper limit for issuing permits was 90 permits per day.

However till November11, 2010 there is no room in Sinh Sadan and even the advance permits issued to casual visitors are over booked.

Officials said that of the 90 permits issued daily about 50 per cent were issued in advance. And now the first available advance permit is of November 15, 2010. According to officials, not just the Sinh Sadan, which is the official guest house of the forest department, but even hotel owners were having a great time. Of these 45 advance permits, over 25 were pocketed by the hotel owners.

Even #Devaliya, the #LionInterpretationZone, has also seen a rise in the number of tourists. It has been noticed that the number of schools coming here for picnics has seen a sharp rise. After visiting Devaliya, schools head for #SomnathTemple, one of the #Jyotirlingas.

Courtesy:- Times Of India, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 3rd, November, 2010.

Aal Izz well for harriers at Velavadar Park

Over 1,300 Sighted So Far, Numbers May Go Beyond
2,200 By November-end


Rajkot: Unlike some previous years, this winter season is going to be a special treat for wildlife and nature lovers as harriers, a rare and endangered species, have started arriving in large numbers at Blackbuck National Park (BNP), Velavadar, from Siberia. BNP Velavadar in Bhavnagar district is the largest communal roosting site of harriers in the world.
The forest department con ducted an initial population estimation exercise of harriers at BNP on October 29-30. The number of harriers sighted at the park was between 1,350 and l,400, which, forest officials said, is very impressive in comparison to the previous years. Last year only 979 harriers were sighted here, with the number being lowest in a decade.
Forest officials said the final population estimation would be conducted at the end of November during the peak season. “We are expecting the total number of harriers to go beyond 2,200-in the peak winter season when the final counting would be conducted,” said J.S. Solanki, Assistant Conservator of forests at BNP
Of the l6 harrier species in the world, at least four types — Montagu, Pallid, Eurasian Marsh and Hen — arrive at BNP every year. This season, all the four species have arrived. “This year, because of good rains and overall favorable weather, harriers are likely to be sighted in good numbers,” said forest official.
Harriers, the slender, long bare-legged, long-winged and long-toiled hawks with an owl-like facial ruff, are considered as farmers’ friends as they are predators. Their diet includes large insects, especially locust; fish; reptiles especially snakes; lizards and skulks, birds (both land and water) and small mammals (rodents).
Harriers are vital indicators of the health of ecosystem as its pray base is insects. “Harriers adapted to a lifestyle in open landscapes having habitats like wetlands, grasslands, crop fields, reeds and sedges, salt marshes and dray barren lands. Harriers often roost communally at night, both on pas sage and in winter quarters,” said a forest official.
“The good rain has created a favorable condition for harriers. Owing to impressive crops around the BNP, food chain for the harriers is also very good this time. These could be among the main
Reason for the arrival of large number of the migratory birds,” Solanki said.
The harriers are the only diurnal ‘raptor group or birds of prey’ nesting and roosting on the ground. The communal roost sites are critical resources for harriers’ survival as they spend considerable time over there. “These communal roosting sites are usually grasslands where they get concealment and protection from both predators and cold weather,” he said.
“Harriers generally start congregating at these sites about half an hour or so prior to sunset. They spend time pre-roosting in open ground close to their roost site, engaging themselves in resting, preening and vocalizing. This is probably done to attract others to increase the flock size. Just after sunset, an intensive inspection of the grassland—their roost site— is carried out and within hour they settle down for roosting. Early morning, around sunrise, they leave the roost and head towards their respective foraging grounds,” said Solanki.

Courtesy:- Times Of India, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India.