Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

Vaagaikulam may become a birds' sanctuary

TIRUNELVELI: It is reliably learnt that the Department of Forest has finally prepared an extensive proposal to be forwarded to the government for converting the community tank at Vaagaikulam near Alwarkurichi in the district into a birds' sanctuary.

After the birdwatchers and the researchers of Bangalore-based Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), involved in an International Union for Conservation of Nature study of wetlands around the Kalakkad- Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the district, happened to notice the convergence of huge number of birds – both domestic and migratory – on a community tank at Vaagaikulam, appeals from various quarters were raised for converting the tank into a birds' sanctuary.

Moreover, they also started a mild campaign among the officials against the move to cut down the ‘karuvelam' trees, all planted inside the tank under the social forestry scheme, as they were the shelter for several thousands of birds including white ibis, glossy ibis, black ibis, chestnut-tailed starlings, brahminy mynas, cotton pygmy goose, spot billed ducks, spot billed pelicans, Indian moor hen, pheasant tailed jacanas, white breasted water hen, sandpipers, gull billed terns, common kingfishers, white throated kingfisher, pied kingfisher, pied crested cuckoo, western marsh harrier, night heron, rosy pastor, red vented bulbul, open billed stork, osprey, pond heron, purple heron, cormorant, darter, egrets, little grebe, yellow wattled lapwing, yellow wagtail, barn swallow, palm swift, black headed munia, brahminy kite, brown shrike and house crow.

Thanks to the efforts of the Forest Department officials here, the government has asked them to prepare a detailed report on the present status of the community tank, now the house of the birds, and to forward a proposal on the possibilities of converting it into a sanctuary, which will enable the officials to allocate increased resources for strengthening the infrastructure facilities there.

“If the proposal is accepted, it will be a boon to the entire Vaagaikulam area as it will ensure inflow of good number of tourists round the year,” said a ATREE volunteer.

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