Athirappilly project renews biodiversity debate

K.S. Sudhi
KOCHI,  
The Hindu, January 21, 2015 

The debate over the possible biodiversity impact of the Athirappilly hydroelectric project has resumed with the Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment all set to consider the project proposal mooted by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).

The KSEB had recently submitted a report to the Ministry on the availability of water in the Chalakudy river system. The board is hopeful that the project would be cleared, J. Baburaj, Director (Generation), KSEB, said. Once the Ministry approves the proposals, the project will take off, he said.

Renewed bid

It was following a report of the High-Level Working Group (HLWG) on the Western Ghats that the KSEB renewed its attempt to get the project back on track.

Incidentally, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel had rejected the project, highlighting its impact on the riparian ecosystem of the region.

Meanwhile, a group of scientists had questioned the biodiversity impact report, prepared by a scientist of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, which was used by the board for piloting the project.

They had also written to the HLWG stating that the “project – the seventh dam along the 145-km course of the river – will no doubt be a death knell to the last remaining population of endemic species of flora and fauna of the river as the reservoir will be a totally unconducive habitat for the specialised and adapted species.”

The report was prepared on a request from K. Kasturirangan, the chairman of the HLWG, after a debate on the biodiversity impact of the project, T.V. Sajeev, Head, Entomology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, said.

The habitats of dragonflies, spiders, a host of fish varieties, snakes, and amphibians, including fossorial fossil frog Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis, and the migration routes of elephants would be impacted by the proposed dam, Dr. Sajeev said.

Unique location

According to the report, the riparian forests along the river are a location in the southern Western Ghats where three important hornbill species coexist.

The proposed dam will have compounded impact on biodiversity caused by the existing dams, which have resulted in loss of riparian forest continuity, change in river flow and vegetation type, and local extinction of low elevation riverine species, the report said.

A few scientists from the KFRI and the Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode, and activists of the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation and Malabar Natural History Society had contributed to the report, he said.

 

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Highest number of waterbirds recorded at Vembanad

TheHindu. January 20, 2015 
KOTTAYAM,  

The Vembanad Waterbird Count 2015, taken up by the Department of Forests and Wildlife and Kottayam Nature Society, has recorded highest number of wetland and wetland dependent birds ever recorded.

According to B. Sreekumar, coordinator, 57,828 birds have been sighted from the 10 sites surveyed. They belonged to 54 families, Dr Sreekumar said. This healthy development is, however, dependent on the huge number of ducks counted at Kaipuzhamuttu areas. The area has recorded 31,232 Northern Pintail ducks and 16,501 Lesser Whistling Ducks. It has also recorded the highest number of bird species at 34.

In fact, Kaipuzhamuttu areas has recorded a steady increase in the bird population, except in 2013, during the past five years. Bird species such as Oriental Darter and Black Headed Ibis were listed as ‘near threatened’ while the Greater Spotted Eagle was listed as ‘vulnerable’ as per the IUCN Red List, Dr Sreekumar said.

What was of concern was the fact that while Kaipuzhamuttu area registered the highest number of birds, the KTDC held Kumarakom Tourist complex area, which once boasted itself as one of the finest bird sanctuaries, had a lesser count at 182. Pathiramanal, another tourism spot, recorded the second lowest bird population at 507 while it also had the lowest number of bird species at 15. Dr. Sreekumar called for regular monitoring of the area especially during the migration season when thousands of birds descended on the paddy fields. He also called for introducing incentives for informants on poaching.

The bird count initiative had formally commenced on Saturday evening when 150 participants joined the base camp organised at the Regional Agriculture Research Station, Kumarakom. The actual survey was conducted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday morning in area that commences from Thollayiram Kayal near RARS to Nedumudy-Bhoothapandy area close to Alappuzha-Changanassery State Highway.

This year’s Vembanad conservation Award was presented to K. Binu, member, tree authority committee.

 

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Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA award

Meena Menon
NEW DELHI,  
The Hindu, January 20, 2015 

The Periyar Tiger Reserve, spread over 925 sq.km. in Kerala, bagged the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) biennial award on Tuesday for encouraging local public participation in managing the reserve.

There are 75 communities living around the reserve, including tribal people who are dependent on eco-development programmes, said field director of the reserve Amit Mallick on Tuesday. The reserve set up the Periyar Foundation in 2006 which was a model for other reserves in biodiversity conservation and community participation in managing natural resources.

After this, the Wildlife Protection Act was amended so that each reserve would set up a Foundation, he told The Hindu. Earlier, the India Eco-Development project (IEDP), which was started in the reserve in December 1996, continued up to June 2004. The community-based eco-tourism activities helped visitors and there were night scouting programmes with the help of expert trackers as well. Tourism was supplemented by pepper growing and marketing which was a value addition.

Now self-help groups were involved in honey processing and other income-generating activities, Dr. Mallick said. Of the 75 eco development committees, 15 were tribal and each had about 150 to 200 members. There were 19 different eco-tourism programmes apart from village eco-development programmes like bee-keeping.

The committees also played a major role during the Sabarimala pilgrimage which involved a 23-km trek in the dense forests. Small shops were set up along the way and people helped in regulating the pilgrims and in waste management, removing 40 to 50 tonnes each season.

 

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Move to ban display of wildlife trophies in social media

K.S. Sudhi,

KOCHI, 
TheHindu, January 7, 2015

Flaunting of images of hunted wildlife and wildlife trophies in social media sites may land one in trouble.

Taking note of instances of some social media users flaunting pictures of wildlife articles and trophies, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has decided to discourage the trend as it fears it would encourage hunting and promote illegal wildlife trade.

The WCCB has written to the Chief Wildlife Wardens of the State to draft legal provisions to check the display of such articles by those who legally own these materials.

According to S.B. Negi, Additional Director, WCCB, there have been “instances of hunted wild animal/ wild animal trophies/articles being displayed on social media by certain individuals. Prima facie, the objective is to show wild animal hunting as an act of bravery and possession of wild animal trophy/article as symbol of wealth/ status,” he pointed out in a recent advisory.

Wrong message

The display of such “hunted wild animal or animal articles/ trophies, may encourage hunting or/and stimulate illegal wildlife trade; therefore it needs to be stopped,” he directed the State forest officials.

Even though only a few individuals may be posting such pictures in social media, its impact would be big considering the reach of social media sites. Primarily, people would be displaying such materials as part of flaunting their wealth or valour of those who might have hunted down animals, Mr. Negi told The Hindu .

At present, there are no legal provisions for banning such display. However, provisions must be incorporated while issuing certificate of ownership of wild animal article and trophy. The State wildlife wardens have been asked to incorporate the provisions as they issue permissions for holding such materials.

The Bureau can act against such instances once the provisions banning the display are incorporated in the permissions, he said.

Legislation

The Bureau has also asked the State wardens to make legislations invoking Section 64 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which permits the State governments to make rules regarding the regulation of possession, transfer and sale of captive animals, meat, animal articles, and uncured trophies.

When contacted, a senior official of the Kerala Forest Department said no such instances had been reported from the State. As of now, the display of such materials has not been banned by law, he said.

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Rock paintings at risk of fading away

Giji K. Raman
MARAYUR,  
The Hindu, January 7, 2015 

The rock paintings in the Marayur-Chinnar forest belt of Kerala, the second largest concentration of cave paintings in south India, are at high risk of degeneration.

As per isolated studies conducted so far, there are 21 cave paintings of red ochre in this Kerala-Tamil Nadu region, a senior official of the Kerala Forest Department told The Hindu. Over 50 caves, situated in the forest belt, are believed to be of the prehistoric period. The cave paintings in Ezhuthala and Attala in Marayur sandal division, the most noted ones, were in more danger.

The official said the rock paintings were in the eastern slope of the Western Ghats, at around 3,000 metres above sea level. The sandy rocks were highly prone to degeneration, he said, adding that they needed new methods of protection. Without assured protection, visitors could not be allowed entry there, he added. Rocks were in bad shape in the Madathala cave at Alampertty in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which was accessible to visitors.

The first cave painting in Marayur was identified in Ezhuthala Madi on the Tamil Nadu border by Padmanabhan Thampi as part of his research paper in 1974. In 2009-10, archaeological researchers Benny Kurien and Dhanushkody documented the paintings in Ezhuthala, where the largest number of paintings was identified.

 

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Study on impact of feral cattle on Idukki sanctuary

Giji K. Raman
KATTAPPANA,  
The Hindu, January 6, 2015

The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary will conduct an impact study of feral cattle inside the sanctuary so as to devise a plan for their culling, if needed.

The study, to be conducted for the first time, will begin this month. The primary focus is to collect data on the feral cattle population so as to devise a plan for their culling to protect the natural wildlife, a senior official of the Forest Department told The Hindu on Monday.

Feral cattle

Feral cattle are domesticated animals that were sent for grazing but made the forest their natural habitat over years of living and breeding there. Though they are considered wild animals, they are not on the scheduled list as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary hosts one of the largest populations of feral cattle in terms of buffaloes and cows.

The sanctuary has a limited area of 105 sq km with 33 sq km covered by the reservoir area, and there are no known predators except the wild dhole. The sanctuary has a large population of wild elephants, in addition to sambar deer, barking deer, mouse deer, jungle cat, and wild dhole.

The impact study will look into how the feral cattle population negatively impacts the natural wildlife.

It is believed that the feral cattle were trapped, preventing their return, with the spread of the reservoir waters after the construction of the Idukki dam. As per data in the Management Plan, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary 2012 to 2022, a large number of feral cattle are close to the Kulamavu reservoir area of the forest. There are also chances that those sent for grazing in Valakode and other grassland areas entered the forest and lived and bred there for years.

There is no chance of cross-breeding as there are no wild animals of the same genus in the sanctuary. Like other wild animals, the feral cattle move in groups and charge at human beings or run away into the core areas.

National Wildlife Board member P.S. Easa said feral cattle could be carriers of diseases and pose a threat to the natural wildlife in a sanctuary, which is a protected area.

Their population growth could result in a competition for resources, affecting the survival of other wild animals.

 

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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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