The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ducks may become extinct in Adilabad

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Saturday, Dec 06, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ducks may become extinct in Adilabad

S. Harpal Singh

Disappearing lakes and water bodies major cause for the decline in their population

PHOTO: G. SANJEEV REDDY

‘Endangered’: Ducks are rarely seen in Adilabad these days. -

ADILABAD: Even before someone woke up to the fact, ducks and geese of the local are on the verge of extinction in almost all villages and towns in Adilabad district. Disappearing lakes and water bodies and improvement in roads and sanitation are being seen as the major causes for dwindling of the population of these scavenging foragers.

The domesticated local variety fowl called the Indian Runner Duck was reared by nearly every householder in the localities of Bokkalguda, Khanapur and Qila-Tirpalli that were located on the fringes of the Bada Talab tank here. Thousands of these white, fawn and chocolate coloured birds used to waddle to this fresh water tank in town and thousands others used to forage for food in the 15 lakes around town.

The Indian Runner Duck stands out for its shape that resembles a penguin and its peculiar gait because of the shorter legs that are positioned towards the end instead of the centre of the abdomen.

The ducks were raised for their capacity to lay eggs throughout the year and for their meat. Raising of even a flock of 1,000 cost nothing except space to the owner because these birds feed on worms and ants and other smaller living organisms in lakes and drainages.

The development that took place over the years shrunk the open spaces in every locality and village in the district. Sanitation improved and so did the road conditions within localities. The increased number of motorised vehicles on these roads added to the factors that rendered rearing ducks a rather unviable exercise.

Watchdogs

Simultaneously, the population of the larger bird, the white goose also fell drastically because of the same reasons. The geese were also raised for their eggs though many did not relish the meat.

Geese were also used as watchdogs in many a household in Adilabad. On noticing a stranger, the geese honk loudly. Sometimes, these birds even bite intruders who dare to come close enough.

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