Chennai: Increased human activities along with large scale deforestation in the Nanmangalam Reserve Forest area located on the outskirts of the city are turning a major threat to the rare Great Indian Horned Owls, which have been breeding here for several decades.
Nanmangalam a scrub forest covering an area of 320 hectares, is the only habitat of this rare owl in the city. No other forest area near Chennai has attracted these beautiful nocturnal birds with tufts on their heads.
Naturalists are worried that the numbers of these endangered predator bird species, which are mostly found in hilly and rocky scrub forests, have come down in the last few years in Nanmangalam.
According to them, developmental projects, poaching for traditional medicine, entry of pesticides in the food chain, quarrying, destruction of hillocks for road and urban expansion and destruction of ancient groves are either destroying or fragmenting the traditional habitats of these owls.
Pointing to the disappearance of these owl species from Singaperumal Koil and hills near Vandallur, Pro. T Murugavel, a bird watcher and environmentalist, said that any anthropogenic activity is a threat not only for this species but for any flora and fauna. He stressed on the need for protection of its habitat. “It should also be ensured that any such habitat should be undisturbed and have a good prey base. Research on other areas where this species lives may help in identification and protection of such habitats”, he added.
District Forest Officer Ritto Cyriac said no documentation has been done yet to say the number of this owl species is coming down. But he thinks the number would be decreasing due to the increased human activities in its habitats.
K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder of Nature Trust, who has been studying the ecology of the bird for many years, told Deccan Chronicle that he spotted only one nest last month as against documenting two nests of five and three eggs in each in 2007.
“There are only five owls (a parent pair and 3 chicks) in the Nanmangalam forest now. Every year this pair produces minimum two or three chicks. Once the chicks are mature, they move to other rocky regions,'' says Range Officer, P Lakshmana Kumar. He thinks the increase in the crow population is posing a threat to the owls. “Crows attack these owls during the day and destroys their eggs”, he added.
When asked about the increased human activities, Lakshamana Kumar said they have taken all the steps to increase the protection to the area to enable this owl species to sustain and breed in this habitat itself.
