The remarkable sight of these graceful birds nesting peacefully amidst the village setting has gradually become a tourist attraction. This could contribute to enhancing support for conservation of these important wild life species, especially the threatened pelicans. It could spread awareness of nature in the broader public and bring economic benefits to the villagers, who are, by and large, quite poor. Further development of tourism can therefore be quite welcome. However, this tourism will impinge on a complex and delicate natural ecosystem and therefore must be planned in a holistic fashion.

 

Proposed Infrastructure Plan

The proposed infrastructure initiatives:

1.      Improvement of approach roads,

2.      Construction of Machans (watchtowers),

3.      Information kiosks,

4.      Restaurants and

5.      Twin cottages.

 

Significance of the proposed plan:

1.   The approach road to Kokkarebellur from the Bangalore Mysore highway has already been developed. However tarring the crossroads within the village would be unadvisable, as that would require widening, resulting in chopping trees, finally creating distress among the birds. Leveling the mud road to facilitate the movement of villagers would be the best alternative. This would be significant as driving in the crossroads would increase the air and noise pollution, thus harming the birds.

2.   The Construction of watchtower would also hinder the flight of the birds. The Pelicans do no just nest on the top of trees but nest on even the lower spread out branches of the trees, which would not require a watchtower. It would be advantageous to set up “spotting scopes” on fixed tripods at specific locations to view these huge birds.

3.   It is extremely important to develop an Information Kiosk, which can educate and create awareness among the general public about the history of the place and the birds. Involving the local youth group, Hejjarle Balaga (Friends of Pelican), which is competent enough with excellent slides and information brochures of Kokkarebellur capable to meet any tourist’s curiosity.

4.   Setting up of restaurants again must be managed locally to support the cause of rural tourism. 

5.   Twin cottages or guesthouses are definitely not demands of any tourists (exemplified by Miss Sara Jolly who co-authored the book, Kokkarebellur: The legendary village of Kokkarebellur, who managed to stay without any such comforts for over an year) and might just encourage misuse.

 

A holistic action plan for Kokkare Bellur may be based on the following objectives:

1. Sustaining the nesting of birds in decades to come
2. Sustaining the centuries old co-operation of villagers in decades to come
3. Providing good facilities and relevant information to the visitors

 

As the local villagers have provided ample protection for the birds since time immemorial, we propose for the formation of a Village Forest Committee (VFC). The VFC would manage the prevailing fragile ecosystem at Kokkarebellur and also cater to the tourists visiting Kokkarebellur. The committee would continue their age-old custom as caretakers, but in a highly organized sector, while the state Forest and Tourism Department should provide support financially for the forest committee. It is the uniqueness of this proposal in bringing the various government departments such as the Karnataka Forest Department, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Department of Minor Irrigation and Fisheries, Zilla Panchayath, along with the Village Forest Committee.

 

Participants in the Collaborative Endeavor:

·                           Village Forest Committee (VFC),

·                           Karnataka Forest Department (KFD),

·                           Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC),

·                           Mandya Zilla Panchayath

·                           Department of Minor Irrigation and

·                           Department of Fisheries

 

The Village Forest Committee (VFC) in its part would oversee the following:

a.         Nesting sites: Ensuring the survival of existing nesting trees and increasing nesting trees as Ficus, Tamarind, Thespesia and Acacia.

b.         Food supply for birds and chicks at Kokkarebellur.

c.         Continued access of guano (manure) from nesting birds to the villagers.

d.         Security for the nesting birds from threats such as

§    Electrocution from the low electric lines.

§    Persecution by fishermen at the tanks because of competition for fish

 

The Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) in its part would oversee the following:

a.         Nesting sites: Ensuring the survival of existing nesting trees and increasing nesting trees as Ficus, Tamarind, Thespesia and Acacia.

b.         Creating incentives for villagers to maintain old nesting trees and plant new ones with a transparent system of deciding on and disbursal of the incentives.

c.         The KFD needs to double the compensation provided to the villagers, which varies from Rs 150 – 600 (depending on the tree).

 

The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) in its part would oversee the following:

a.         Creating incentives for villagers to maintain old nesting trees and plant new ones with a transparent system of deciding on and disbursal of the incentives.

b.         KSTDC needs to make available a Matching grant to the villagers.

c.         Ensuring security from disturbance by visitors that increases chance of predation by crows, or force the abandonment of nests must be addressed.

d.          Watch towers may become cause of such disturbance.

e.          Additional earning from visits by tourists through employment as guides, charging of parking fee for vehicles, camera fee, paid toilet, opportunity for running a restaurant or other tourist facilities.

f.           Good system to control generation of garbage by visitors and its disposal

g.          Access to information on the birds and the ecosystem with the help of a good Interpretation Center.

 

The Mandya Zilla Panchayath in its part would oversee the following:

a.         Maintenance of attractive, hygienic environment in the village through creation of a good water supply and box drainage system.

b.         Access to Kokkare Bellur and facilities for parking, food, water, toilet.

 

The Department of Minor Irrigation and Department of Fisheries in its part would oversee the following:

a.         Maintaining the surrounding water bodies such as Tailur Kere, Maddur Kere, Gollarashettikere and Sole Kere from which the birds feed in good health.

b.         Commercial fishing in the tanks should be banned to ensure adequate food (fishes) for these birds at places where the birds go fishing such as, Mandakalli, Karanji, Veerapura, Kukkarahalli, Lingambudhi tanks along with the earlier mentioned tanks.

c.         Persecution by fishermen at the tanks because of competition for fish.

d.         Desilting of the tanks to increase the storage capacity of the tanks for ensuring their longevity.

 

 

 

 

Last Updated 31st July 2004 - Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012, India