A bird’s call for help to Andhra government

February 9, 2006

ASIAN AGE 09 Feb,2006

News Plus __________________________

- By M. Sai Gopal

Jerdon’s Courser, a black-tailed bird, which was once thought to be extinct, was

rediscovered in India in 1986. However, if the Andhra Pradesh government has its

way, the critically endangered bird would become extinct again, and this time

forever. The proposed route for the state government’s pet Telugu Ganga canal

passes through the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary in Kadapa, the world’s

only known habitat for this rarely sighted bird which scientists call

Rhinoptilus Bitorquatus.

As per plans, the canal would pass through the border of the sanctuary and

within 500 metres of the site where Jerdon’s Courser’s presence was recorded

recently. The jungle in and around this region is the only place where Jerdon’s

Courser has been sighted and that too occasionally. Birdwatchers have mostly

been content with photographing its footprints and hearing its chirping.

It is a nocturnal bird which has been put in the critically endangered category

by scientists. It has also been included in the " red list " of the International

Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

In India too, Jerdon’s Courser is listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife

Protection Act, 1972 and is considered as priority species for conservation.

After 1900, ornithologists were under the impression that the species was

extinct, until it was rediscovered by the veteran Salim Ali. The bird was

actually spotted by ornithologist Bharat Bhushan who was part of the project

headed by Salim Ali. The area where it was rediscovered was designated the Sri

Lankamalleswar a Wildlife Sanctuary. The bird is known to inhabit a small area

in the jungles near Reddipalli in the Sagileru valley. Experts from India and

the West have literally spent sleepless nights to see the bird and their

combined efforts had helped in discovering three new sites frequented by

Jerdon’s Courser in the same sanctuary.

Jagannathan, a researcher from the Bombay Natural History Society said that the

number of birds in the sanctuary had gone up in the past five years. " It is a

night bird and hence it is difficult for us to spot, " he said.

" Five years ago, there were just 12 birds in the sanctuary but now the number

must be around 35, " he added. But the state government’s decision to revive the

Telugu Ganga canal without changing the earlier design now threatens to destroy

the bird’s habitat.

To prevent this from happening, the BNHS, World Wildlife Fund and the

Birdwatchers Society of Andhra Pradesh had conducted a detailed survey at the

sanctuary and had submitted a report to Central Empowered Committee for

Environment.

The report says that if the excavations for the proposed canal are continued, 50

hectares of the jungle will be destroyed — the chosen habitat of Jerdon’s

Courser. " Illicit wood cutting is rampant and the BHNS report also talks about

bulldozers and excavators, said Farida Tampal, president of the AP chapter of

the WWF. " Invariably, local people will have access to the jungle where the bird

thrives. "

Jagannathan said that he had spotted excavators in the scrub jungle. " The

irrigation department did not even bother to take the permission of the forest

department for the construction, " he said. " We have submitted the report along

with the pictures of the excavations sites. "

February 11, 2006

Dear friends,

This is an important issue and we are on the east coast of AP doing major

animal welfare issues including protection of seaturtles and migratory birds

since several years.

I would offer our profuse help to do the best and may we join you as we are in

AP already in this campaign and let us decide what is the issue now to takeup.

My suggestion would be to have a cooperated effort with effective netlinking.

Can we start this rightaway.

Regards,

Pradeep Kumar Nath,

VSPCA,

Visakhapatnam,

AP.

debasischak wrote: