NNHS-Newsletter Issue-6.2.Pdf
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ISSN 2395-065X NEWSLETTER of the NILGIRI NATURAL For private circulation only HISTORY SOCIETY ISSUE 6.2 Dec 2015 3 Biodiversity Nature Park in Nilambur 4 Freshwater fish 6 Butterfly migration 8 Health of the forest dwellers of Nilambur valley 10 Nilambur and Nilgiris 12 Water-filled tree holes in the rainforests NEWSLETTER of the NNHS 1 EDITORIAL BOARD EDITORIAL elcome to the twelfth issue of the Newsletter of the Anita Varghese 1, Archana Sivaramakrishnan 1 WNilgiri Natural History Society. The past few months have witnessed incessant and record shattering showers Mathew John1, 2, Sumin George Thomas 1 across the coast of Tamil Nadu, bringing life almost to a standstill and wreaking havoc. The Nilgiris received a fair 1 Manju Vasudevan share of showers too, but despite the untoward events, the people and the landscape have shown resilience. However, it is a lesson to bear in mind. 1 Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, Nilgiris - 643217, Tamil Nadu, India. The current issue brings to light the south-west region of 2 Last Forest Enterprises (P) Ltd., Kotagiri, Nilgiris - 643217, Tamil Nadu, India. the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve - Nilambur, the land of teak plantations, rivers, rainfall, evergreen forests and indigenous COPYLEFT communities. The conservation and research efforts and natural history in the region have been highlighted in this issue. To start with the Biodiversity Nature Park in Nilambur set up by the Kerala Forest Research Institute which serves as an information hub to visitors and as a gateway to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Along with the visitors to the This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- BY Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the butterflies too seem to be 3.0 Unported License using Nilambur as it migratory corridor. The evergreen (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) forests of Nilambur are home to abundant wildlife and even the tree holes seem to harbour quite an array of insect Newsletter of the Nilgiri Natural History Society is available at life. The birthplace of many streams the Chaliyar River and its tributaries, and these waters harbours several endemic www.nnhs.in and endangered aquatic species, a snapshot of the fishes is All photos and maps are by Keystone Foundation unless otherwise described in this issue. mentioned. Along the banks of these rivers and streams live the indigenous communities, who essentially are the custodians For membership and other details contact : of the forests of Nilambur, and indigenous knowledge is plentiful, as evident in the Natural Historians section where Gopiyettan from Eruttukutti shares his views . The gold deposits in Nilambur and the Assyrians provided an interesting twist to the origin of indigenous communities in the upper plateaus of the Nilgiris. Despite nature’s bounties at their disposal, the health of indigenous communities of the Nilambur is diminishing and the determinants would be Nilgiri Natural History Society, various as discussed in this issue. 144-A, Bee Museum, Club Road. Opp. Hill Bunk, We have introduced a new section to the newsletter ‘Visitors Ooty -643 001, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu,India, email: [email protected], to the Nilgiris’ and this issue features the visitor from Japan, Phone No: +919442619577 the Blue and white flycatcher and we hope that more come by in the months to come. Indian Kangaroo Lizard (Otocryptis beddomei) Finally, the regular feature of the newsletter the young voices from Nilambur, Pillur and Punanjanur and the activities of Indian Kangaroo Lizard is an endangered reptile found only in South India. In Kerala the Nilgiri Natural History Society. their distribution is confined to Trivandrum & Kollam districts. A good population is The Editorial Board wishes to thank all the contributors to observed in Thenmala and Shenthuruni this issue of the newsletter and look forward to many more regions of Kollam district and Agasthyamalai of Thiruvananthapuram district. The peculiar contributions. running pattern using the hind legs (upright) gives them the name Kangaroo lizard. They Happy Reading! are usually found in thick ground cover of evergreen forests. Cover photo: M. Divin Murukesh From Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary 2 NEWSLETTER of the NNHS Under the Lens... Conservation gardening and plant propagation. They also stated that the educational functions of BNP by having theme areas and biodiversity knowledge dissemination activities are closely knitted with recreational functions, thus enhancing the visitors’ satisfaction. The KFRI has recognized the fact that positive feelings about goods and services of BNP is leading to repeated visit by the visitors Biodiversity and also attracting new visitors. Therefore, attempts are being made to emphasize more on the educational role of BNP in public image and in turn enhance the BNPs Nature Park in attractiveness to visitors. For this purpose, KFRI offers high quality knowledge-based educational programmes and to improve Nilambur - Dr. U.M. Chandrashekara the visual illustration of the biodiversity and beauty of plant diversity. uring the year 2007, the Kerala destination and public nature education Forest Research Institute established site for local people and thus they are KFRI Subcentre, Nilambur,Kerala. Pin: 679 342 e-mail: D [email protected] a Bioresources Nature Park (BNP) at willing to re-visit and recommend the its Sub Centre in Nilambur. Located BNP to their friends and colleagues. adjacent to the Teak Museum, the However, a few respondents, whose travel BNP is now evolving both as an ex- motivations are solely to have fun and situ plant conservation area with plants enjoy the BNP as a play ground and a categorized and presented under eight picnic spot, are either definitely not willing thematic areas such as orchid house, fern to re-visit or recommend the BNP to their house, hydrophytes garden, xerophytes friends and colleagues. Since the objective and succulents garden, medicinal plants of the BNP is to serve as a base for public garden, palms and rattan garden, butterfly nature education, the BNP staff triy to garden and taxonomic garden. All the enforce the codes and conduct of the themes are presented in a landscaped BNP on visitors which can make the BNP garden carpeted with grass. The ambience unattractive to certain visitors. The survey of the general area is also enhanced by a also showed that the BNP visitors mostly wide variety of ornamental plants. Within came to gain access nature or enjoy the scenery of the garden. However, after the visit they felt that they have significantly higher satisfaction than expected as they gained additional educational experiences such as exposure to plant diversity, botany, eight years of its establishment, the BNP is recording an increase in annual turnover of visitors from 12.8 lakhs to 25.6 lakhs. The increasing trend of annual visitors is an indication of the fact that the visitors are being attracted to the BNP for its educational and recreational functions. Recently, an on-site survey was conducted to examine the effects of visiting BNP on visitors’ experience and satisfaction. Over 90% of the respondents felt that the BNP is becoming a most popular travel NEWSLETTER of the NNHS 3 Under the Lens... Conservation FRESHWATER FISH of the Karimpuzha River through indigenous lens Satish Chandran & K.G Ramachandran Local Name : Aaral Local Name : Arana Local Name : Cheraan Local Name : Chundan Scientific name : Mastacembelus armatus Scientific name : Osteochilus longidosalis Scientific name : Channa marulius Scientific name : Gnoproktopterus Kolus Habitat : Found normally in rock Habitat : This fish is found near the Habitat : This fish found mostly in Habitat : Seen normally in the depth holes and tree roots under rock-blocks in running the deep muddy parts of of rivers water. Sometimes found water river and streams Habit : Active during night in deep in wooden holes of those Habit : Spend most of the day Habit : Feed on insects, small water and feed mostly on trees fallen down into under water feeding on fishes, frogs and spend small insects rivers small fish and insects time in depth of water and Status : Common in Karimpuzha Habit : Spend their time under Status : Sharp decline in moves on as couple water day and night and population, Sandmining is Status : Few are found here when feed on insects mostly and a major reason of declining compared to past. The at times on small fishes population reason for decline is Status : Very common in believed to be the absence Karimbuzha and other of silt down the water. streams around Local Name : Chattali Local Name : Kadunna Local Name : Koyatti Local Name : Pootta Scientific name : Barilius getensis Day Scientific name : Tor-tor (Hamilton) Scientific name : Ompok bimaculatus Scientific name : Etroplus Suratensis (Bloch) Habitat : Found mostly in rivers and Habitat : Found commonly near the Habitat : Mostly found in river, Habitat : Found in still water near fields and in slow running rock-blocks in running streams the banks of rivers, water water Habit : These fish prefer spending streams and fields Habit : Feeds on small insects Habit : Spend most of the time day and night under the Habit : Spend their life close to and rests on the surface of under water and feed on water and feed on small river bed water small fish, frogs, other fishes and insects Status : Common in Karimpuzha Status : Common in Karimpuzha insects Status : Rare.Very few are found Status : Very common in these days. Karimpuzha 4 NEWSLETTER of the NNHS Local Name : Poosan Scientific name : Travancoria Jonesi Hora Habitat : Found mostly on sands where there is low water Local Name : Kulapparal Local Name : Kannanchutti Local Name : Kallamkkari movement in river, streams Scientific name : Scientific name : Scientific name : and paddy fields Rasteora danciconius Aplocheilus linetus Garra mcclellandi Habitat : Found in still water near Habitat : Found in still water near Habitat : Live most of the time in Habit : Spend most of the day the banks of rivers, the banks of river or river.