Name of the Hotspot

Ranganathittu

Focal species

Mahseer – Tor khudhree (Sykes).

Coordinating Team

Experience / Expertise

Prof. Madhav Gadgil & Team

Investigation Team

H.N. Chandrashekharaiah, M.F. Rahman, K. Shyam Bhat and Dr. G. V. Kowtal

Dates of data collection

From 07.02.2004 & 08.02.2004

Process of data collection

Field study and Interviews.

Source of information

1) Shri. S.N. Devaraj, Asst. Conservator, Wildlife, Sub-Division.
2)  Shri. Dinesh, Sr. Asst. Director of Fisheries.
3)  Dr. Ananth, Asst. Director of Fisheries.
4)  Shri. Suresh, Fisherman
5)  Shri. Ravi, Fisherman
6)  Shri. Narayanaswamy, Fisherman,   7)Shri. Krishna, Dept of Forest  
8)Shri. Mahadev, Dept of Forest  
9)Shri. Shivram, Dept of Forest,  
10)Shri. Sidda Gowda, Dept of Forest.

Number of man-days consumed in data collection

8 man – days

Location

Between Srirangapatnam to Krishnaraja Sagar.

Area (in ha or Sq. km)

6 Sq. Km

Latitude / Longitude / Altitude.

Lat 12 o .25', Long : 76 o -41'

Village/Town/ Taluk/ District

Ranganthittu /Srirangapatna / Mandya

Maps (kind of map and scale)

Enclosed

Mode of access (Distance from Railway/Bus station)

150 KM from Bangalore 6 KM from Srirangapatna K.R.S Road 15 km from Mysore.

Facilities to stay closest to the Hotspot

Inspection bungalow at Srirangapatna PWD and Mourya Hotel (KSTDC) , Private Hotels and Lodges at Srirangapatna.

Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the Hotspot

Entrance fee Rs. 20/- per head + Rs. 20/- per head for Boat riding Parking charges for Buses Rs. 75/- and Cars Rs. 20/-

Controlling authorities

Department of Fisheries and Department of Forest.

Classes of Landscape

River Cauvery is surrounded by paddy and sugarcane fields and trees on the Banks of the river.

Water body

River Cauvery

Human population

Tourists

Presence of Scheduled Tribes or Nomadic Tribes population.

-

Livestock

-

Irrigation status and Major crops

Paddy, Sugar cane, etc

Significant forest produce

Green manure and firewood.

Co-operative Societies and their transactions

Ganjam Fishermen Co-operative Society, Srirangapatna.

Significant fresh water fish productions

Nil

Disposal of fishing rights (Leasing / Auctioning / Licence)

Not applicable (Protected area)

Number and type of fishing crafts

None

Nearest fish landing centres

Not applicable

Availability of fish processing facilities

None

Mining and quarrying activities

None

Source and extent of air and water pollution

Flow of pesticides from agricultural fields during rains.

Prevalent of human diseases

Not reported

Prevalence of livestock diseases

Not reported

Active NGOs

Nil

Name of individual / institutions / agency

Activity with a positive influence on core area

Activity with a negative influence on core area

Activity with a positive influence on zone of influence

Activity with a negative influence on zone of influence

1

2

3

4

5

6

Local individuals

Shri. S.N.Devaraj

Protection to the sanctuary

Protection of the habitat.

Local institutions

Wildlife sub-Division, Dept. of Forest

Outside individuals

Miscrients

Dynamiting

-

Poaching

Poaching

Outside institutions

Government agencies

Dept of Forest

Protecting the area

Boating is organized for tourists

Industrial mining companies etc.,

Any other agencies

Name

Age group

Sex

Community

Address of expertise

Shri. Suresh

40 years

Male

Fishermen

Gaujam

Shri. Ravi

50 years

Male

Fishermen

Gaujam

Shri. Narayana swamy

60 years

Male

Fishermen

Srirangapatna

Shri. Krishna

50 years

Male

Raiyanakute

Shri. Mahadev

50 years

Male

Raiyanakute

Shri. Shivaram

50 years

Male

Raiyanakute

Shri. Siddegowda

45 years

Male

Raiyanakute

Shri. S.N. Devaraj

40 years

Male

Asst Conservator of Forest (Wild life Sub Division)

Sri. Dinesh

40 years

Male

Sr. Asst Director of Fisheries

Dr. Ananth

40 years

Male

Asst Director of fisheries.

1.

For zone of influence

Village map enclosed

2.

For zone of influence

Village map enclosed

1.

Habitat type

Riverine area

2.

Local name (if any)

Ranganathittu

3.

Approximate total area (in ha)

6 Sq. km

4.

Special significance of the habitat type (if any)

Bird Sanctuary, place of nestingand breeding. Also fish species such as L.fimbriatus G. dubius P carnaticus. Tor khudree , used to be there in large numbers but their population, presently is declined.

5.

Management regimes

Forest Department is managing the area – Good numbers of forage fishes are found in the area.

6.

Goods and services provided by the habitat

Recreation, Bird watching. Nature has provided congenial conditions for the birds to migrate from far off countries, nests, breed and take their young after they attain adequate size.

7.

Bads and disservices provided by the habitat

Nil

8.

Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat

Undisturbed area. Number of trees on the banks for and on island provide facilities for nesting.

9.

Significant man-induced processes influenced by the habitat

Pesticides from neighbouring agricultural fields are likely to enter the river and may affect the aquatic life. Boating operations may disturb the brood stock.

10.

Interacting individuals and institutions (local)

Forest Department and Department of Fisheries

11.

Activities

Prevent poaching. Tourists, centre boating, recreational.

12.

Interacting individual and institutions (External)

Tourists

13.

Activities

Tourist feed the fishes

1.

Type and name of the habitat patch

Ranganathittu

2.

Change in :-

i

Area

Nil

ii

Vegetation strata

Marginal change

3.

Aquatic habitat change in

i

Catchment area

Nil

ii

Aquatic fauna

Marginal changes

iii

Aquatic flora

Nil

4.

Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch

Rocky river, deep pools and marginal vegetation provide scope for fishes to breed and young to take shelter

5.

Significant man-induced processes influencing the habitat patch

Nil

6.

Productivity of Goods and Services

Nil

7.

Extent of Bads and Disservices

Dynamiting, Poaching.

8.

Reasons for ongoing changes

Population increase, tourists influx.

9.

Gainers

Birds, fishes, tourists, Forest Department

10.

Loosers

Nil

11.

Desired changes / Desired future

Threatened fish species are required to be replenished and protected.

12.

Desired management system

The Fisheries Department in collaboration with the Forest Department, may organize replenishment of endangered fish species and try to protect them.

13.

Suggested component for feasible management plan for the habitat patch

A Committee consisting of Officials from Forest, Fisheries Society for Advancement of Aquaculture may be constituted for development and management of Hotspot.

Scientific name

Common English name

Kannada name

Order

:

Osteoglossiformes

Suborder

:

Notopteroidei

Family

:

NOTOPTERIDAE

Genus

:

Notopterus Lacepede

1

Notopterus notopterus (Pallas)

Feather back

Chamari

Order

:

Cypriniformes

Family

:

CYPRINIDAE

Sub family

:

Danioninae (=Rasborinae)

Tribe

:

Oxygasterini

Genus

:

Salmostoma Swainson

2

Salmostoma clupeoides (Bloch)

Black-razor-belly minnow

Chalake

3

Salmostoma untrachi (Day)

Mahanadi – razor belly minnow

Chalake

Tribe

:

Danionini

Genus

:

Isomus Swainson

4

Esomus danricus (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Flying barb

Meese-pakke

Genus

:

Danio (Hamilton – Buchanan)

5

Danio aequipinnatus

(Mc Clelland)

Giant Danio

Arshina Patte

Genus

:

Rasbora Bleeker

6

Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Black-line Rasbora

Midun

Genus

:

Amblypharyngodon Bleeker

7

Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton Buchanan)

Mola carplet

Enapu-pakke

Sub family

:

Cyprininae

Tribe

:

Cyrinini

Sub tribe

:

Cyprini

Genus

:

Cyprinus Linnaeus

8

Cyprinus carpio communis Linnaeus

Common carp

Samanya Gende

Sub tribe

:

Tores

Genus

:

Tor Gray

9

Tor Khudree (Sykes)

Deccan Mahseer

Bili meenu

Genus

:

Neolissochilus Rain both

10

Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (Mc clelland)

Chocolate Mahseer

Bili meenu

Sub tribe

:

Systomi

Genus

:

Puntius Hamilton- Buchanan

11

Puntius carnaticus (Jerdon)

Carnatic Carp

Machalu

12

Puntius sarana sarana (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Olive- barb

Gende

13

Puntius sophore (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Spot-fin swampy barb

Gud pakke

14

Puntius ticto (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Ticto barb

Bud pakke

Genus

:

Gonoproktopterus Bleeker

15

Gonoproktopterus dubius (Day)

Nilgiri carp

Koorlu

16

Gonoproktopterus micropogon micropogon (Valenciennes)

Korhi barb

Chitta Koorlu

Tribe

:

Labeonini

Subtribe

:

Labeones

Genus

:

Cirrhinus Oken

17

Cirrhinus cirrhosa (Bloch)

Cauvery Carp

Arja

18

Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Mrigal

Mrigal

19

Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Reba

Arja

Genus

:

Catla Valenciennes

20

Catla catla (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Catla

Catla

Genus

:

Labeo Cuvier

21

Labeo calbasu (Hamilton Buchanan)

Calbasu

Kem-machalu

22

Labeo fimbriatus (Bloch)

Fimbriatus

Kem-meenu

23

Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Rohu

Rohu

Sub family

:

Oreininae

Genus

:

Garra Hamilton-Buchanan

24

Garra gotyla stenorhynchus (Jerdon)

Nilgiri Garra

Kallu Korava

Family

:

BALITORIDAE

Sub family

:

Nemacheilinae

Genus

:

Schistura Mc Clelland

25

Schistura denisoni denisoni (Day)

Nemacheilus

Murangi

Genus

:

Mesonemacheilus Banarascu and Nalbant

26

Mesonemacheilus pulchellus (Day)

Nemacheilus

Murangi

Order

:

Siluriformes

Family

:

BAGRIDAE

Sub family

:

Bagrinae

Genus

:

Mystus scopoli

27

Mystus cavasius (Hamilton Buchanan)

Gangetic Mystus

Girlu

Family

:

SILURIDAE

Genus

:

Ompok Lacepade

28

Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch)

Butterfish

Godle

Genus

:

Wallago Bleeker

29

Wallago attu (Schneider)

Freshwater Shark

Bala

Order

:

Mugiliformes

Family

:

MUGILIDAE

Genus

:

Rhinomugil Gill

30

Rhinomugil corsula (Hamilton Buchanan)

Mullet

Natti Kannu

Order

:

Cyprinodontiformes

Family

:

APLOCHEILIDAE

Sub family

:

Aplocheilinae

Genus

:

Aplocheilus Mc Clelland

31

Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes)

Killi fish

Moogu-malli

Family

:

POECILIDAE

Subfamily

:

Poecilinae

Genus

:

Gambusia Poey

32

Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard)

Gamubsia

Sole meenu

Order

:

Synbranchiformes

Suborder

:

Mastacembeloidei

Family

:

MASTACEMBELIDAE

Sub family

:

Mastacembelinae

Genus

:

Mastacembelus Scopoli

23

Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede)

Spiny Eel

Havu meenu

Order

:

Perciformes

Sub order

:

Percoidei

Family

:

CHANDIDAE (=AMBASSIDAE)

Genus

:

Chanda (Hamilton-Buchanan)

34

Chanda nama (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Glass perchlet

Bachinke

Genus

:

Parambassis Bleeker

35

Parambassis ranga (Hamilton – Buchanan)

Glass fish

Bachinku

Sub order

:

Labroidei

Family

:

Cichlidae

Genus

:

Oreochromis Gunther

36

Oreochromis mossambica (Peters)

Tilapia

Tilapia

Suborder

:

Gobioidei

Family

:

GOBIIDAE

Subfamily

:

Gobiinae

Genus

:

Glossogobius Gill

37

Glossogobius giuris giuris

(Hamilton-Buchanan)

Tank Goby

Bhangi Sidda

Suborder

:

Channoidei

Family

:

CHANNIDAE

Genus

:

Channa Scopoli

38

Channa marulius (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Gaint Snake-head

Avulu

39

Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Spotted Snake-head

Korava

40

Channa striatus (Bloch)

Stripped Snake-head

Kuchchu

Most common local name of the species (Language )

Indicated

Scientific name of the species

Indicated

Habitat favoured

Fluviatile conditions and deep pools in the habitat.

Value to local community

Fishes breed and add to the population which will be caught in up-stream and down stream of the sanctuary.

Major uses / Ill-effects

Recreation; fishes form the food of birds.

Value of global relevance (as rare, threatened or endangered)

There are some threatened species of fishes which are to be protected.

Most common name of the species

Mahseer

Scientific name

Tor khudree (Sykes)

Most common local name of variety / species

Bili meenu

Existing management authority

Forest Department

Fish breeding season

Monsoon and Post- monsoon.

Fishing methods (Types of nets used)

Not applicable

Current level of abundance

Moderate

Trend in abundance in last 10-15 / 40-50 years

Comparatively fishery is declined in species. Composition, sizes and numbers.

Significant ecological processes influencing the species

The flow of water is reduced which has the direct impact on fish .

Significant man-induced processes influencing the species

Dynamiting

Reasons for the ongoing change

Increased fish population

Gainers – Internal / External

Nature, Tourists

Loosers – Internal / External

Nil

Desired changes / desired future

In the interest of providing adequate fish food for the birds, it is necessary to replenish the stocks and provide protection.

a)

Perspective of others

1.

Desired response option of different members of local or outside. communities / institution / government agencies / industrial or mining undertaking etc.

The importance of the Hotspot is significant as a “Bird Sanctuary” commanding international recognition, visitors desire that proper protection should be given to birds nests and their young once. Disturbances should be strictly avoided.

2.

Significance of management issue and response options

Some of the trees existed earlier have now disappeared. Trees of suitable species variety, facilitating nesting for birds should be planted both in the margin of river stretch and on islands.

3.

Management issue pertaining to

•  Habitat and / or

•  Species / Variety

Since the flow of water is reduced suitable measures should be taken to allow water from KR Sagar. The species of birds visiting and their way of life may be studied. In addition, the food of birds i.e fishes play a vital role. Therefore periodical survey of fish population may be undertaken and efforts should be made to improve the fish stocks.

4.

Customary / Administrative

Fisheries Department has prohibited fishing from 1964 onwards.

5.

Since how long the arrangements have been in practice

Since 1964

6.

Changes, if any, in management pattern over last 10-15 / 40-50 years

Nil

7.

Desired changes / Desired future

Threatened birds and fishes should be protected.

8.

Desired management system

A Committee represented by the officials of the Forest, Fisheries, Society for Advancement of Aquaculture and bird watchers may be constituted to develop and manage the birds as well as fish sanctuary.

b)

Perspective of Investigators

Survey of avian and fish fauna may be conducted and measures taken to improve the habit. A name board indicating do's and don'ts may be installed. There is old board indicating names of few fish species recorded earlier in the sanctuary. But based on the present study the list of fish species recorded now is enclosed a board detailing the names may be installed.

c)

Desired and feasible pattern of management that should be promoted in the opinion of the investigators

As at 6 (a) 8

d)

Suggested strategy for promoting this desired patterns of management and the communication needs for the purpose.

As (a) 1 to 8

e)

Cultural, religious, recreational, scenic, tourist significance of the Hotspot

Recreational, Scenic, Tourist.

f)

Ecological evaluation of the Hotspot

Moderately managed ‘Hotspot'

g)

Suggested follow-up investigations

As in 6 (b)

h)

Any other suggested follow-up

A Committee of represented by the concerned Departments may be constituted to foresee the development and management of the Sanctuary / Hot spot.