Tiruchy: Drop in bird arrivals post Gaja cyclone, says Scientist Dr A Kumaraguru
Tiruchy: Arrival of migratory birds in the major eight birds sanctuaries in the state including Kodiyakarai, Udhayamarthandapuram and Vaduvoor, has sharply dropped in the wake of the devastating 'Gaja' cyclone in November last, according to Dr A Kumaraguru, conservation scientist. In total numbers these sanctuaries recorded 48,000 migratory birds on just two days of February 7 and 8 this year, but in terms of species only 28 birds had been spotted, much less than in the previous year, he said
Dr Kumaraguru, who is also board member National Tiger Conservation Authority and member of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve Foundation told newsmen here on Tuesday, said last year a rare migratory bird Barheadev Goose arrived in Tamil Nadu, from 6,000-km away in Mongolia.
He said the number of countries signatories to the Iran-based Ramsar Convention on wetlands, an International treaty to ensure their conservation and sustainable use, have gone up to 216 in 2018 from 185 countries earlier.
He said the State has received '60 crore during last year from wetland international for the Tamil Nadu Bio Diversity Conservation and Greening project to promote green cover, and to develop existing bird sanctuaries in the state.
Dr Kumaraguru, later speaking on "Ecological Importance of Wetlands" at the state- level seminar on conservation of biological diversity, organised by the PG and research development of Zoology, Periyar EVR college (Autonomous),Tiruchy, underlined the need for people participatory programmes on wetlands protection as they are vital for human survival.
Dr V Sai Saraswathi. Environmental scientist, department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore, gave a special lecture on 'Urban Forestry and Conservation', while Dr Vijayalakshmi, controller of exams, Periyar EVR College, inaugurated the conference.
Among others K. Chitrarasu, advisor (Law) National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India, Chennai, Dr G. Archunan, UGC-BSR faculty fellow, department of Animal sciences Bharathidasan University, Tiruchy, and Dr S Umamaheswarai, conference convenor, spoke.
