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Research planned on lesser known wildlife species at Sunderbans
For years the Royal Bengal Tiger has commanded fear in the minds of the local people, awe from the visitors and the attention of conservators of the Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, but now research about the lesser known species of wildlife of the estuarine islands is being initiated, officials of the State's forest department said here on Monday.
“So far the focus of wildlife management has been on the tiger, but there are many other species that also require special conservation efforts. For example, we are planning to start a research project on the Batagur baska (turtle),” said Sunderban Biosphere Reserve director Pradeep Vyas.
The Batagur turtle, also known as the mangrove terrapin, is listed as critically endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Freshwater turtle nests in terrestrial sites – sandbars and riverbanks – and is known to thrive in tidal zones.
“It is speculated that the largest population of the turtles may be there in the Sunderbans, but we have no idea about their numbers here,” Mr. Vyas said, adding that the study will also look into the breeding patterns and conservation strategies of the amphibians.
Plans for a crocodile census in the coming winter are also on the cards. Again the rivers and streams around the islands are known to be full of crocodiles, but the authorities have “no idea how many crocodiles are there in the waters.”
The authorities of the Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa have been regularly conducting a count of saltwater crocodiles and their help will be sought to conduct the exercise here in Sunderbans, Mr. Vyas said.
The Sunderbans are also home to the River Dolphin, declared the “national aquatic animal” by the Central Government in October last year.
While their numbers are estimated to be dwindling, but no specific measures for their conservation have been contemplated yet, Mr. Vyas added.
Source: The Hindu