BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT Thailur
	Setting | Threats | Knowledge Individuals | Habitat | Life Scape | Management

 

1.      Name of the Hotspot: Thailur Tank.

2.      Focal species: 

a.      Plants

Terminalia tomentosa, Pongamia pinnata, Samanea saman, Cassia fistula, Tamarindus indicus, Azadirachta indica

      (List attached)

b.     Mammals:

Jackal, Pangolin, Three striped palm squirrel,

(List attached)

c.       Reptiles:  

Russell’s Viper, Rat Snake, Saw Scaled Viper, Cobra

(List attached)

d.     Birds:  

 (List attached)

e.      Fishes:  

(Sourve Mr. Chandrashekariah & Mr. Rahman)

3.      Coordinating Team:  None.

4.      Investigating Team: Pramod Subbarao, Harish Bhat and Dr. Chakravarthy A K.,

Experience/expertise: Naturalist and Researchers

5.      Dates of data collection: From 08-02-2004 To 08-02-2004

6.      Process of data collection: Field visits, Interviews.

7.      Sources of information:

·        Villagers

·        Fisheries department

·        NGOs

8.      Number of man-days consumed in data collection: 3 Days.

(For core area, zone of influence)

1.      Location:             Thailur Tank

2.      Area (in ha or sq.km.): 

3.      Latitude/Longitude/Altitude: 

Latitude:

Longitude:

Altitude:

Temperature:

Rainfall:

4.      Village/Town/Taluk/District:  Rudrakshapura, Maddur, Mandya

5.      Maps (kind of map and the scale):

6.      Mode of access (Distance from Railway/Bus station):

Nearest Airports: Bangalore

7.      Facilities to stay closest to the hotspot: Hotels at Mandya and Maddur.

8.      Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the Hotspots: None

9.      Controlling Authorities:  Minor Irrigation Department

10.  Classes of Landscape: Plain land and tank area

11.  Water bodies:  Single vast reservoir with perennial source of water. At present the water level has decreased drastically.

12.  Human populations: No human settlement within the hotspot.

13.  Presence of Scheduled tribes or Nomadic tribes population:  None

14.  Livestock: Cattle and sheep are found in great numbers.

15.  Irrigation status & Major crops:  Major source of water for irrigation and drinking purpose. Ragi, Sugarcane & Vegetables.

16.  Significant forest produce:  Nil

17.  Quantities recorded at the Range or Divisional Forest Offices: No data available since no collection is made. NA

18.  Cooperative societies and their transactions: NA.

19.  Significant fresh water fish productions:  Very moderate.

20.  Disposal of fishing rights (Leasing/Auctioning/License): No such controlling at the tank.

21.  Significant estuarine & marine fish/shell fish productions: NA.

22.  Number and type of fishing crafts: Coracle, angling and drag net.

23.  Nearest Fishing landing centres: NA.

24.  Availability of fish processing facilities: NA.

25.  Mining and quarrying activities: NA.

26.  Sources & extent of Air and Water pollution: The land filling and brick making activities are shrinking the area of the tank and polluting the water.

27.  Prevalence of Human diseases: NA.

28.  Prevalence of Livestock diseases: NA

29.  Educational institutions: None at the immediate access close to the hotspot.

30.  Cooperative societies: None

31.  Youth clubs:

32.  Ladies clubs:

33.  Active NGOs: Hejjarle Balaga, Kokkrebellur.

Inventory of two kinds of activities affecting the core area as well as zone of influence

Table – 1

Table-2

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Preparation of sketch map of the landscape

1.      For zone of influence

2.      For zone of influence

b.     Description of Habitat types

1.      Habitat type: Plain land.

2.      Local name (if any):

3.      Approximate total area (ha):

4.      Special significance of the habitat type (if any): The Thailur tank is the only food source for Pelicans, Painted Storks and other birds that nest in Kokkrebellur 10 kms away

5.      Management regimes: None.

6.      Goods and Services provided by the habitat:  Provides water for drinking purpose and also recharges the surrounding open wells. Provides food and water for Pelicans, Painted Storks and other water birds.

7.      Bads and Disservices provided by the habitat: NA.

8.      Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat type:  NA.

9.      Significant man- induced processes influenced by the habitat: No significant man –induced processes.

10.  Interacting individuals and institutions (Local): No interaction of individuals & institutions.

11.  Activities: Brick making, Land filling, Fishing occur at the tank.

12.  Interacting individuals and institutions (External): NA.

13.  Activities: NA.

c.       History of important habitat patches over 10-15/40-50 years

1.      Type and name of the habitat patch:  Thaiilur Kere

2.      Change in

i.                    Area: Peripheral area shrunken to some extent due to encroachment and land filling.

ii.                 Vegetation strata: Plain land.

3.      Aquatic habitat change in

i.                    Catchment area:

ii.                 Aquatic fauna:

iii.               Aquatic flora: Nymphaea stellata, Cyperus Haspan, Lemna sp.

4.      Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch: Nil.

5.      Significant man induced processes influencing the habitat patch: Landscape transformation, water scarcity due to extra demand for cultivation of water dependent commercial crops.

6.      Productivity of Goods and Services: NA.

7.      Extent of Bads and Disservices: Nil.

8.      Reasons for ongoing changes: Demand for land by encroachers, Drought.

9.      Gainers: Contractors and Encroachers

10.  Losers: Local villagers dependent on the tank for water and also the dependent water birds.

11.  Desired changes/Desired future: Need to be properly protected involving NGO’s and local people. Maintain water level by proper management.

12.  Desired management system:  To monitor the water level and regulate fishing activities during acute shortage. The irrigation department must evaluate every year the progress

13.  Suggested component for a feasible management plan for that habitat patch:

Work according to the suggested components and villagers to be involved in drawing the management plan.

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Naturally occurring species of significance

1.      Flowering plants:

          2. Insects:

v     Butterfly

3.      Crustacea: Crab

4.      Fishes:

5.      Amphibians:

6.  Reptiles:

v     Lizards

v     Snakes

v     Tortoises

q       Indian Flap Shell (Lissemys punctata)

7.      Birds:

8.  Mammals:

b.     Additional information on species of significance

1.      Most common local name of the species (Language):

2.      Scientific name of the species: See the table above.

3.      Habitat favoured: Wetland and the plains.

4.      Value to local community: Moderate.

5.      Major uses/ill effects: NA

6.      Value of global relevance (as Rare, Threatened or Endangered):

c.       Inventory of significant varieties of domestic plants/animals:

1.      Local name of Species:  NA.

2.      Scientific name of species: NA.

3.      Local name of variety:  NA.

4.      Language employed: NA.

5.      Distinctive features of the species/varieties: NA.

6.      Value to local community: NA.

7.      Major uses: NA.

8.      Value of global relevance (as rare, threatened or endemic etc.): NA.

d.     History of significant species/varieties

1.      Most common name of the species: NA.

2.      Scientific name: NA.

3.      Most common local name of variety: NA.

4.      Existing management authority: NA.

5.      Fish breeding season: NA.

6.      Fishing methods (Types of nets used): NA.

7.      Existing management authority: NA.

8.      Current level of abundance: NA.

9.      Trend in abundance in last 10-15/40-50 years: NA.

10.  Significant ecological processes influencing the species/varieties: NA.

11.  Significance man induced processes influencing the species/variety: NA.

12.  Reasons for the ongoing change: NA.

13.  Gainers (Internal/External): NA.

14.  Losers (Internal/External): NA.

15.  Desired changes/Desired future: NA.

16.  Desired management system: NA.

17.  Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the species/variety: NA.

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Perspectives of others

1.      Desired response options of different members of local or outside communities/institutions/government agencies/industrial or mining undertaking etc. to be recorded):

Per Mr. Shivanna of Hejjarle Balaga (Kokkrebellur), Thailur lake is the only source of food for Painted Storks Pelicans and other water fowl. This needs to be protected as is where is. Any change/development in the area might distort the delicate balance of the water fowl-wetland equation. As a repercussion, the population of the Pelicans, Painted Storks etc will dwindle at Kokkrebellur.

2.      Significance of management issues and response options: Minor Irrigation manages the lake. The locals feel that the water level needs to be monitored regularly.

3.      Management issues pertaining to:                      

a.      Habitat and/or: NA

b.     Species/variety: NA

4.      Customary/Administrative:          

Customary: NA.

Administrative: NA.

5.      Since how long the arrangements have been in practice: Since ages.

6.      Changes if any in management pattern over last 10-15/40-50 years:

v     Silting of lake has reduced the water logging capacity, hence offering a threat of tank drying during the summer.

v     Illegal fishing by locals is dwindling the fish catch for the birds.

7.      Desired changes/Desired future:

v     All illegal activities to be curbed and the tank should be maintained status quo.

8.      Desired management system: NA

b.     Perspectives of Investigators:

v     The Thailur lake is strategically located for the birds in Kokkrebellur. Many activities like fishing, brick making etc to be curbed.

v     A management system needs to be drawn taking into confidence, the locals and the naturalists alike and implemented thoroughly.

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

See above

d.     Suggested strategy for promoting these desired patterns of management and the communication needs for the purpose:

See above

e.      Cultural, religious, recreational, scenic, tourist significance of the hotspot:

A Shiva temple at Rudrakshipura attracts lots of devotees from the peripheral villages.

f.       Ecological evaluation of the hotspot: It is the only food source for pelicans and painted storks.

g.      Suggested follow up investigations:

v     Desiltation to be carried out

v     Brick making, Land filling and illegal fishing to be curbed

v     Enumerate birds and fishes

v     Local tree species not to be felled

v     More local tree species to be planted

v     Shauchalayas to be constructed around the peripheral villages

v     The conduct of tourists, devotees visiting the hotspot should be regulated.

h.     Any other suggested follow up:

Monitor periodically the visiting water birds.

Check list of fishes present in the tank.

A board depicting the presence of many important rare birds and also the importance of the same.