Sewage inflow into lakes poses threat to birds in Karnataka

Mysuru: There are 554 important bird areas (IBA) in India, and 41 of them are in Karnataka, the second highest number among the states. But shockingly, 40 per cent of these ecological treasure houses, including Kokkare Bellur, are not even officially protected.

More than 30 bird species are under threat in 15 IBAs in Mysuru region alone, including Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts. The reasons for this are the usual suspects: shrinking catchment area and sewage inflow into the water bodies.

A birdwatcher, Anagha, who has studied the phenomenon, said the famous Kukkarhalli lake in Mysuru, which inspired writers like R.K. Narayan, is in danger of losing birds such as darters, painted storks, oriental white ibises, spot-billed pelicans and lesser adjutant storks.

On the other hand, in the Adichunchangiri wildlife sanctuary, yellow-throated bulbuls are under threat due to granite quarrying. At Bandipur, endemic birds are prey to poachers. In the Nagarhole national park, tourism, illegal tree cutting and forest fires are the culprits.

In the Ranganthittu bird sanctuary, darters, painted storks, oriental white ibises, greater spotted eagles and spot-billed pelicans are endangered by the overuse of fertilisers and pesticides in farms.

Anagha said, “A small amount of sewage water let into the backwaters of Krishnarajasagara dam, home to 20,000 birds, and extraction of sand on the Cauvery riverbed is posing a threat to several birds, including oriental white ibises, spot-billed pelicans, bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, little stint and Temminck’s stints.”