Drying Gir(Guajrat, India) reservoirs brimming with birds

The receding water in the Kamleshwar dam(Sasan Gir, Gujarat, India) brought some good news for visitors and the officials at Gir National Park. The low levels of water are inviting large flocks of winged visitors. These migratory birds are returning to the dams in the national park after a decade, said the officials.
Sources in Gir said, “ This year because of the drought in the district, there is hardly two or three feet of water at the edges of the Kamleshwar Dam reservoir, and about four to five feet of water in the centre. This is attracting large number of birds from nearby water bodies. Pelicans, lesser flamingoes and cranes along with other migratory birds have started flocking to the dam site.”

Visitors to the forest along the Kamleshwar dam route will get to see these winged visitors and large number of crocodiles which are now coming out of the water as the water is very low”.

Sandeep Kumar, the deputy conservator of forests, Gir, says for the past two days, there have been good sightings of birds at the Kamleshwar dam. These birds sighting are for the first time in a decade. “I have been told by the staff that these birds have come to the Kamleshwar dam after a long time. There have been sightings of pelicans, lesser flamingoes among other. Demoiselle cranes are not usually seen in Gir, but this time because of the less water, availability of food had attracted the birds. This may be good news but what is worrying is that the receding water will force officials to resort to alternate methods of providing drinking water for the lions”.

Crocodile at Kamleshwar Dam, Sasan Gir, Gujarat, India

Samshad Alam, a researcher working in Gir for the past six years says, “I had not seen these birds here thus far, so it came as a surprise when saw them in large numbers. The dams have now caused of the shallow waters. These waders, pelicans, and flamingoes need just nearly two feet of water which, at present, is suitable for these birds.

Courtesy: – Times of India.

Coalition Work

Politicians insist running a coalition government can be a tough task. But in gir, the Lion kings have been running their version of ‘coalition government’ for a long time. Gir – the last adobe of Asiatic lions – thrives on numerous prides thriving on tie-ups. In the kamleshwar Dam site area, two lions have established their supremacy over a huge pride and an even bigger territory. “Usually one lion rules the group and other just play a supporting role, but here the two lions rule a group of 28 members including females, sub adults and adults,” said the officer.

Sandeep Kumar, deputy conservator of forest head quarter says,” This coalition is only to safeguard their territory against outside attack”. The bonding between these tow lions is so strong that they mate with the same lioness without ant element of jealousy.

“When one lion is mating, the other is constantly on the move, guarding the territory and after four or five days, the second lion takes over and the first guards the territory. We are studying the unique mating behavior,” Kumar said.

Gir forest officials say that apart from this group, there are several prides in gir Sanctuary that have two rulers. Additional principal conservator of forest, H.S. Singh, says in Africa too one can find in-stances where two lions have ruled a pride. There have been instances where there are three to five males in the group. But in all these cases, one of the lions is always supreme and the others play supporting roles.

“These lions pair up to save their own territory against invasion of nomadic lions or other sub-adult lions. They team up whenever there is an attack and provide protection to the pride. Usually, after capturing the territory, the strong one would become the king of the area, while the other would be supporting him”, said G.A. Patel, former principal chief conservator of forests. He said that the lion population in Gir was increasing because of the conservation efforts and this practice of grouping.

Courtesy:- The Times Of India.