The wildlife wing of the State Forest Department is carrying out a census of migratory and residential birds. The migratory birds do not breed during the period of winter, but come to our land to get a respite from the severe chill in their native places.
Odisha is proud to be providing asylum to large varieties of birds and reptiles. The main sanctuaries of birds are Bhitarkanika, Chandaka- Dampada (Nandankanan), Debrigarh, Gahirmatha, Athagarh, Bharatpur, Karlapat, Nalavana (Chilika), Nandankanan, Satakoshia, Ansupa, Hirakud reservoir and entire stretch of sea beach of nearly 500 km.
The most important bird sanctuaries are Nalavana (Chilika), Bhitarakanika, Satkosia and Bharatpur. The most attractive migratory birds of 94 species come to Nalavana every year, particularly during winter. In 1989-90, two millions of birds from different categories came to the sanctuary for winter rest. The groups of different birds folk together and rest together and also freely roam in groups. This makes it easy for the enumerators to count them. The Zoological Survey of India during 1983 -1987 enumerated that, there were 800 species of animals in Chilika. So, Chilika always is made vibrant and colourful with the addition of bird beauty during winter. There are reptiles like snakes, lizards, aquatic mammals like Irrawadi dolphins and Olive Ridley turtles.
Similarly, the Bhitarkanika sanctuary is also another bird hub- cum-estuary and a hot tourists destination and place of research of biologists. Here, the nature has a sound food chain which sustains the rich biodiversity. When birds, fishes, insects and reptiles in large numbers are found here, they find it to be an attractive place. In turn, their droppings are eaten by fishes. Different types of mammals like leopard cat, fishing cat, jungle cat, hyena, wild boar, spotted deer, sambars, wolves and jackals etc with reptiles like pythons, king cobra, salt water crocodiles and partially white crocodiles are seen frequently. Once, dolphin was very common in Bhitarkanika, but due to constant interference of man in the coastal region and ocean, their population has gone down to the level of extinction. Besides, reptiles like water monitor lizards, terrapins and marine turtles are very common in the region. The bird like kingfishers, wood peckers, hornbills, bar headed geese, brahming ducks, pintails, white bellied sea eagles and varieties of resident and other migratory birds attract the visitors and tourists, especially during winter and early summer months.
But many residential birds are found in the Ansupa lake in Athagarh, where they form nests before monsoon. The estuarine as well as fresh water birds have different habitats and food habits. Similarly, the aquatic plants and forests are most important for their nesting. The poachers also know this period well and easily carry out poaching operations.
As information goes, wild animals and birds are hunted massively for food, medicinal use, ivory and other items. The horn of rhinoceros, body parts and hides of tiger, wild boar, pangolin , besides elephant tusk, all kinds of sea-turtles, tortoises and terrapins have a great demand in the country and abroad. Recently, a gang of poachers was caught in the Indian Ocean while engaged in hunting of whales. The Coast Guards could detect the poaching party and handed over them to local Forest Department. Previously, the sea cows and dolphins were seen very frequently in Chilika lagoon, but the sea cows are extinct from Chilika since long, where as the population of dolphin is going down.
The marine mammals like blue whale, sperm whale, common dolphin,Gangetic dolphin and sea cow are seen in Odisha coast, but due to constant pollution of the lagoon water, cultivation of prawn, these marine species are under threat. The Rushikulya river mouth is very much known for its rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles. The mass nesting of Olive Ridleys has already started, but the dolphins are also following the marine reptiles during the period. This is unique that in Rushikulya river mouth, a symbiotic relation exits between the marine reptiles and marine mammals.
In Odisha four families of amphibians, 21 families reptiles, 59 families of birds and four families of mammals are seen. Similarly, 130 species of orchids and 2,727 of plant species are found. In addition, there are 17 reptiles, 15 birds and 22 mammals which are threatened.
The bird sanctuaries are more prone to various epidemics and mass casualties of avians. When the natural food chain is shrinking, cannibalism is noticed among the wild animals. Recently, one adult tigress was killed and eaten by an adult tiger in Madhya Pradesh, which was detected by the patrolling staff. The Kahna forest of Madhya Pradesh forest is known to be a capital of tigers. For the first time in the history of wild life management, it is heard that, a male tiger has killed and eaten up species of its opposite sex. It shows that prey animals of Madhya Pradesh forests are dwindling in number. As our natural forests are vanishing very fast, the State Government should protect the natural habitats of flora and fauna, including the avi-fauna.
(The writer is a former forest officer and an environmentalist, Mob: 9937460649)