Rare owl spotted in Thrissur dist.

K.A. Shaji
Palakkad,  
The Hindu, January 6, 2015 

A rare species of owl, sighted occasionally by ornithologists in the Middle East and West Central Asia, was spotted in the kole wetlands at Enamavu, near Chettuva, in Thrissur district in the second week of December by a birdwatcher.

The spotting has received the validation of leading experts in the field. The Pallid scops owl was spotted by birdwatcher Shah Jahan at 9.30 p.m. on December 14. Ornithologists confirm that it is the first spotting of the bird in south India. “It had been spotted earlier only in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra on rare occasions,” say ornithologists. Praveen J., who authored Birds of Kerala - Status and Distribution, says it is the latest among 500 species of birds found in Kerala. “I am sure it is Pallid scops owl. We have a few records of their seasonal migration to Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Perhaps, the cold spell in north India may have pushed the birds further down,” says ornithologist H.S. Sangha

“The Pallid scops owl is a small owl that eats insects, lizards, spiders, and small mammals. These birds hunt at night. On rare occasions, it has been observed to be hunting during day time. The owl normally breeds between April and June and is a migratory bird. They lay 4 to 6 eggs in tree holes,’’ Shah Jahan told The Hindu . “The recorded photographs and videos have been sent to the authorities concerned for validation of the identification of the owl. The verifiers’ list includes famous bird watcher Nick Moran of Great Britain, Indian ornithologist Harkirat Sangha, and Rajah Jayapal, Principal Scientist at the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. They have endorsed the identification,’’ he said.

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Malabar Daffodil Orchid blooms in Silent Valley

K.A. Shaji
Palakkad,  
The Hindu, November 18, 2014 

The highly endangered terrestrial orchid Ipsea malabarica , which is endemic to the Silent Valley National Park, has bloomed deep inside the forest after a gap of more than a decade. Known popularly as Malabar Daffodil Orchid, it has bloomed mainly in the high-altitude rocky grasslands of Arikumpara, Poochappara, Kunthipuzha Valley, and Sairandhri.

“This is a rare orchid with grass-like leaves and large golden yellow flowers. It blooms in altitudes of 1,200m and above,” said Shilpa V. Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Mannarkkad.

According to researchers, botanist T.C. Jerdon collected this plant around 1,850 in the Silent Valley area and the specimen is now preserved at the Natural History Museum at Wien in Australia. It was rediscovered after a long span of 132 years in 1982.

“Since then blooms had been reported occasionally. We have found a large number of flowered plants in November first week,’’ said Mari, a tribal forest watcher in the Silent Valley.

“The flowered plants will perish by January first week,” Mari said.

The forest protective staff in Silent Valley term the blooming of the rare orchid a result of the comprehensive protection and conservation programmes in the valley, one of the key environmental hotspots of Kerala.

 

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Study finds a dying Gayathripuzha

K.A. Shaji
Palakkad,  
The Hindu, November 4, 2014 

Despite being the major feeder of the Bharathapuzha and a perennial source of drinking water for thousands of families at Kollengode, Nenmara, Alathur and Vadakkancherry in the district, the Gayathripuzha is facing imminent death, says a study conducted by the Kerala State Land Use Board.

Citing large-scale deforestation in its origins apart from adverse changes in land-use patterns on its banks as major reasons for the decline of the river, the study also points the finer at illegal sand-mining in the river.

The study report, prepared by board’s regional assistant director R. Rugmini and agricultural officer V. Bindu, also found 13 among the 28 watershed areas of the river basin as extremely damaged and their revitalisation quite impossible.

The report, prepared as instructed by Palakkad district panchayat as part of its efforts to revitalise the Bharathapuzha river basin, also suggests immediate steps to revitalise 15 watershed areas as they can significantly contribute to the water level in the river, which originates at the Ayyappanmudi hills and supports paddy cultivation in several parts of Chittur taluk.

Talking to The Hindu , Ms. Bindu said all the tributaries of the Gayathripuzha – Mangalam, Ayalurpuzha, Vandalipuzha, Meenkarapuzha and Chulliyar – are also facing imminent death due to severe changes in land use pattern. “If the trend is not arrested immediately, there would be no recovery from the dooms it would spell in a vast area with strong agrarian economy.

Water level in Mangalam, Pothundi, Chulliyar and Meenkara dams is also receding as a result of the decreasing flow in the river,’’ she said.

Illegal quarries

According to her, illegal quarries in areas like Muthalamada and Kizhakkanchery are badly affecting the sustenance of the river.

In areas like Pittakkari Kulambu, new rubber plantations turned the villain as they prevented groundwater discharge and replenishing process. The traditional drains which carried rainwater to the river have been blocked at many part of the region following reclamation of paddy fields for non-agricultural needs. Building mafias are also adding to the grim situation.

“The Ayyappanmudi hills, where the river originates, got hardly one per cent of the original rainforests now. Large-scale misappropriation of forestland by rubber estate owners was found in that area,’’ she said.

The report stresses the requirement of more rainwater harvesting efforts in the river basin apart from restoration of all major ponds and tanks in the area.

 

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On the brink of an eco catastrophe

K.A. Shaji
Palakkad,  
The Hindu, November 3, 2014 

The ecologically sensitive Nelliampathy hill ranges are on the verge of a massive environmental catastrophe largely due to unabated illegal quarrying in the down-hill areas.

Nelliampathy is home to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and numerous streams irrigating vast stretches of agricultural land in Palakkad, Coimbatore, and Tirupur districts.

In the past week, a massive landslip in the Cherunelli area isolated the hill station for four days. Road traffic was partially restored on Sunday. 

Local communities said landslips were frequent in the region since 2009 when large-scale quarrying started in downhill areas such as Muthalamada, Seetharkund, and Chulliyar. Huge cracks were visible on the rocky terrain between Pothundy and Kaikatti Hairpin bend.

“In July 2009, a portion of the hill at Kundaramchola caved in. In 2010, the Cherunelli area witnessed massive landslips. It seems the government and people’s representatives have scant regard for the environmental restoration of the region,” said K.D. Kannadas, a conservationist.

“My studies in the region proved that the hills are located in a geographically less stable area. Extensive granite quarrying here has heightened the possibility of recurring earthquakes,” said Satish Chandran Nair, ecologist.

“Nelliampathy saw severe landslips over a century ago and was now witnessing frequent tremors. Only a blanket ban on quarrying in the downhill areas can protect the region,” he said.

“The Chittoor taluk is the only area in Kerala with black cotton soil formed from old lava flows. Such soil, although very fertile, do not permit adequate water infiltration. So, groundwater replenishment is very slow. This is further worsened by deforestation and the destruction of small hillocks,” said S. Saravanakumar of Chittur.

Water reserves

“Heavy blasting in such terrain would have a harmful effect on groundwater reserves. There were four medium irrigation dams along the base of Nelliampathy and two storage reservoirs. Higher up, there are three dams, part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar project. Just across the border is the Aliyar storage reservoir. Probably, this tract has the largest number of large dams in this part of the country,” he said.

“The government has been talking for long about a master plan for Nelliampathy. But nothing concrete has happened so far in terms of regulating quarries and illegal constructions. Even on top of the hills, many plantations are clandestinely operating granite quarries, resulting in frequent tremors,” P.S. Panicker, a Palakkad-based  environmentalist, said.

 

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