Study of the Wildlife of Jhimpir Wind Corridor, District Thatta, Sindh and Development of Bird Monitoring Strategy in the Area
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African Journal of Science and Research,2014,(3)6:01-09 ISSN: 2306-5877 Available Online: http://ajsr.rstpublishers.com/ STUDY OF THE WILDLIFE OF JHIMPIR WIND CORRIDOR, DISTRICT THATTA, SINDH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIRD MONITORING STRATEGY IN THE AREA. Syed Ali Ghalib1, M.Zaheer Khan1, Syed Masood Ahmed2, Abeda Begum*1, Babar Hussain3, and Waqar Ahmed4. 1)Department of Zoology, University of Karachi,Pakistan. 2)Tekcellent (Private) Limited, Karachi, Pakistan. 3)IUCN-Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan. 4)Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. *Email: [email protected] Received:18, July,2014 Accepted: 29 ,Nov,2014. Abstract The paper aims to describe the wildlife of the Jhimpir Wind Corridor consisting of 15 species of mammals, 79 species of birds, 13 species of reptiles and 20 species of plants recorded during the environmental studies undertaken in the area during 2012 to 2014.The area is under the influence of the existing/future, Wind Power Plants. This will affect the general ecology of the area and may also affect the distribution and movements of the birds in the area.There are chances of bird mortality in the area due to possible collision against the rotating blades of the turbines of the Wind Power Plants.A Bird Monitoring Strategy has been suggested for the study of the impacts of Wind Power Plants on the ecology and movement of birds in the impacted area. Keywords: Impact assessment of wind farms, Wind Energy Projects, Birds Monitoring. INTRODUCTION species belonging to each habitat is recorded. Pakistan due to its geographical location is fortunate enough to Secondary data were collected through literature search including possess an quantum of renewable energy potential including wind the studies conducted within and in the surroundings of the Project energy. Area and information collected from the local communities and from Pakistan adopted a policy for the use of renewable energy in 2006. the Sindh Wildlife Department. The policy encourages the Private Sector to implement renewable The vegetation surveys were carried out by laying 20 x 20m energy projects, including wind power generation, by providing quadrates within the study area. The plant communities were various regulatory, fiscal and financial incentives. determined within the habitat. The AEDB has issued a number of LOIs to private sector Field Surveys were undertaken in the project area to collect data investors for development of 50 MW wind power projects. The active about the fauna of the area. Standard direct and indirect methods projects in the area include: Metro Power, Gul Ahmed Energy, Lucky were applied to record the occurrence, distribution and population of Energy, Sachal Engineering, Wind Eagle, Sapphire, CWE, Master various animal species in the area, which included point count Wind Energy, FFC and Zurlu Enerji. (Anon. 2012) surveys, roadside or track counts, line transect method and tracks/signs counts. INLAND JHIMPIR RESULTS Wind farm region is located at approximately 80 to 100 km East/Northeast of the city of Karachi. Its topography is generally flat 15 species of mammals, 78 species of birds and 13 species of with an increasing height above sea level from 30-40 m in the south reptiles were recorded during the present survey from the area upto 70 to 100 m in north western direction. Some hill slopes of upto (Tables 1, 2 and 3). Important sampling sites have been identified in 130 m above sea level exist in the centre and the in the north of the the area (Table 6). region. The rioughness is lower in the southern part. The entire area Mammals is characterized by being dry land and with agricultural activities mainly in its southern part. Jhimpir village is located in this area but it During the present survey, 15 species were recorded. The area is not included in the defined wind farm region. In the rest of the has very thin population of mammals. Only solitary individuals of big region, scattered human settlements can be found. mammals such as Indian Jackal and Red Fox could be sighted. One It is mainly flat and barren with little grass, shrubs and little or no den of Indian Crested Porcupine was located. The small mammals vegetation. The soil texture in the area is mostly rocky and gravely such as Five Striped Palm Squirrel, Indian and Desert Gerbils, with the Kohistan hills in the surroundings which area an extension of House mouse were scarce. Desert Hedgehog, Desert Hare, Ratel the Khirthar Range. Various water bodies including Keenjhar Lake at and Indian Pangolin have been reported from the area. a distance of 20km and Haleji Dhand at distance at 32 km are also Birds: present in the vicinity. The area supports Grey Partridges, Chestnut bellied and METHODOLOGY Lichtenstein Sand grouses, Pigeons, Doves, Bee-eaters, Mynahs, Data in respect of fauna and flora were gathered from both Shrikes, Bulbuls, Indian Robin, Purple Sunbird, Black Drongo, Black primary and secondary sources. The sampling locations were Kite, House Sparrow, and House Crow. Indian Silverbill and Sind randomly selected, ensuring that representative locations are Jungle Sparrows area quite common near the villages or near the water points. sampled for each habitat and the maximum possible number of 2 Abeda Begum et.al Reptiles: No endemic or rare plant species was recorded during the survey. Table 4. provides the list of floral species observed in the three main As regards the Reptiles, 13 species were recorded during the habitats viz. Flat Plains, Streambeds and hillocks/ foothills in present survey. Snakes such as Saw-scaled Viper, Indian Cobra, quadrates measuring 20 x 20 m and 2 x2 m. Indian Krait, Indian Sand Boa, Plain Racer have been reported from the area. Indian Desert Monitor was found to be scarce, while Indian Protected Areas: Garden Lizard and Indian Spiny tailed Lizard were common in the Two Ramsar Sites are located within this wind corridor viz. Haleji area. Lake, and Keenjhar Lake. There is no Wildlife Protected Area in Threats: the close vicinity of the site. Keenjhar Wildlife Sanctuary is more than 20 km away from the site. Threats include any activity or process that may cause or is likely to cause any adverse effect upon the status of any species. At Seasonal Migratory Pattern: present, there are no serious threats to the species. Disturbance is a minor threat. The main migrants to the province of Sindh during the winter season are the Waterbirds, Raptors, Houbara Bustard, Common Threatened Species: Quail and the Passerines (Warblers, Pipits, Wagtails and Buntings). The waterbirds migrate to the wetlands in very large number in Threatened species may be of the following categories depending winter. They are a very diverse group of 160 species comprising of upon the level of threat: Critically Endangered (CE), Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V) or Near- threatened (NT). Small flocks of Houbara Diver, Grebes, Pelicans, Cormorants, Darter, Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Storks, Ibises, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Ducks, Geese, Bustard (V) and Black–bellied Tern (NT) fly across the surrounding area. The other threatened species may also be passing through the Swans, Cranes, Watercock, Rails, Crakes, Coot, Waders, Gulls and Terns. area such as Indian Vulture (CE), Dalmatian Pelican (V), Pallas’s The wintering birds of Prey include: Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous Fish Eagle (V) and Greater Spotted Eagle (V). Indian Pangolin (NT) has also been reported from the surrounding area. Vulture, Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Buzzard, Longlegged Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Note on the Key Species of the Area: Eagle, Common Kestrel, Merlin and Eurasian Hobby. The key species of the Study Area is the Indian Spiny tailed Lizard Migratory birds recorded from the Jhimpir Area: (Saara hardwickii) which needs special mention. The following 24 species of birds have been recorded from the It is widely distributed throughout the Indus Valley and Balochistan. Jhimpir Area. These species may be expected to be passing through The animals make its burrows in desolated hard soil of sparse the Jhimpir Area but sporadically due to the absence of favourable vegetation of grasses and bushes. The burrow is a narrow sloping habitat for them. zigzag tunnel about 2m long, ending in a spacious chamber. Barrows Black-bellied Tern, Black Redstart, Caspian Tern, Common are 2-3 m apart from each other. The lizard lives singly in its burrow. Buzzard, Common Redstart, Common Chiffchaff, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Desert Wheatear, Gull-billed Tern, Houbara Homing instinct is very strong and the lizard does not venture far Bustard, Kentish Plover, Large Egret, Lesser Whitethroat, Little from its burrow. On the retiring for the night, the opening of the Stint, Little Tern, Marsh Harrier, Marsh Sandpiper, Redshank, burrow is plugged with a lump of earth. Sandwich Tern, Tawny Pipit, Tufted Duck, White Wagtail, Wood It is vegetarian, feeding on leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits. It Sandpiper, kestrel, Whiskered Tern, Common Hoopoe, feeds on nymphs and adult locusts. It breeds from March – early Bluecheecked Bee-eater, Common Swallow, Pale Sand Martin and May. 6 – 16 eggs are laid in a special chamber in the burrow. Sind Yellow Sparrow. Generally, young ones are active by June. It falls prey to Hawks, The Indus Flyway: Jackals and Foxes. It is used extensively in dissections in colleges. Pakistan is one of the principal wintering grounds for waterbirds in Moreover, its oil (Fat) is said to have aphrodisiac and medicinal South Asia. The lakes in the Indus Valley are major refuge for the properties. Falconers usually use it as bait to trap wild falcons in migratory waterbirds which breed in Northern Eurasia. Pakistan Punjab. forms part of their “Indus River Green Route”. When the climate in Flora: their breeding grounds in Russia becomes too rigorous and the food gets scare, then the birds leave the place and disperse to their winter During the fieldwork in the Project Area, 20 plant species resorts further south along the following seven distinct flyways.