Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Feb 21: The Department of Wildlife Protection (DoWP), Jammu & Kashmir government (Wetlands Division, Kashmir) Tuesday began a census of migratory birds in eight protected wetlands and 25 other water bodies of the Kashmir Valley.
Officials said that the census was conducted across the wetlands and 25 water bodies of the Kashmir valley and was a collaborative effort of Kashmir University, SKUAST-K, Central University, various colleges, Wildlife Conservation Fund, National Development Foundation, Biodiversity Management Committees, Kashmir Bird Watchers Club, Wildlife SOS, Wildlife Researchers, Society for Environment Education and Development, Wildlife Conservation Foundation, Volunteers and freelancers.
They said the day before census, an orientation programme was conducted at camping ground Hokersar Srinagar to inculcate the techniques amongst the participants.
“Census was conducted not only in eight protected wetlands managed by the department like Hokersar, Shalabugh, Hygam, Mirgund, Chatlum, Kranchoo, Manibugh, Freshkhoori but also in other 25 water bodies of the valley, which harbor sizeable number of migratory birds during winter migration,” they said.
Wildlife Warden, Wetlands Division Kashmir, Ifshan Deewan said final figures are yet to come, however, the number of birds is ranging between 10-12 lakh.
“Census has been carried out at around 30 sites across Kashmir and bird numbers are ranging between 10-12 lakhs. Birds haven’t decreased at all and rumours are being spread in this regard but the figures are in the same range, which was last year,” she said.
She said wetlands haven’t shrunk but restoration processes have been started and new areas along conductive atmosphere is being provided, adding that more measures are being taken to increase the number of birds, she said.
“We are usually conducting census in month of February and around 5 lakh birds are present in Hokerser only,” Ifshan said.
