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BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997) RAMSAR SITES basin, a kilometre southeast of Bharatpur (27°13’ ° (Contd. from Vol. 2, No. 2) N & 77 32’ E) at an elevation of 174 m above msl. The Park was designated as a Ramsar site in 1981 and is also the only wetland in to The two preceding issues of be designated as a World Heritage site. The Buceros had given accounts on five of the wetland is a mosaic of a) freshwater lakes and presently six Ramsar Sites of India. This is- associated marshes (lacustrine) b) freshwater sue deals with the last remaining site, ponds (under 8 ha), marshes, swamps Keoladeo National Park, . Prior to (palustrine), c) water-storage reservoirs, dams, the account on Keoladeo National Park, we and d) seasonally-flooded grassland, savanna, give, in brief, the criteria for identifying wet- palm savanna. (Directory of Indian Wetlands lands of international importance based on 1993, WWF-India & AWB). The habitat and fish fauna, as recommended by the 4th and wildlife of KNP is well documented, mainly 6th meetings (Montreux, Switzerland, 1990 from a decade long study (1980-1990) by the and Brisbane, Australia, 1996) of the Con- Bombay Natural History Society, and much of ference of Contracting Parties to the Conven- the information given in this write-up is based tion on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971). The on this work. For more information, see Vijayan first three criteria based on i) representative (1991). of unique wetlands, ii) plants and animals, and iii) waterfowl, have been discussed in History Buceros, Vol. 2, No. 1. The evolution of KNP is an example of The specific criteria based on fish man’s ingenuity in modifying a natural ecosys- fauna to consider a wetland to be interna- tem for his own gain, which has in due course tionally important are: benefited not only man himself, but also the wildlife of the surrounding areas. The use of artificial flooding in a natural depression, by im- 1. It supports a significant proportion of in- pounding and controlling water levels, was the digenous fish subspecies, species or fami- turning point in the emergence of the present day lies, life-history stages, species interac- KNP. The main objective of the Maharaja of tions and/or populations that are repre- Bharatpur, some 250 years ago, was to create a sentative of wetland benefits and/or val- refuge for game hunting, protection of the ‘sa- ues and thereby contributes to global bio- cred’ cow from hostile farmers, provision of logical diversity; or grazing land for buffaloes and for protecting the town from deluges, which occurred frequently 2. It is an important source of food for fishes, in those days. During the early years, KNP had spawning ground, nursery and/or migra- the reputation of being a winter resort of wild- tion path on which fish stocks, either within fowl and a -shooting jheel. the wetland or elsewhere, depend. After independence, the refuge was threatened by the demand to convert it into agri- KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK, cultural land. However, the Bombay Natural BHARATPUR (RAJASTHAN) History Society (BNHS), through the efforts of Dr. , managed to impress upon the con- Keoladeo National Park (KNP), formerly cerned authorities the need for declaring the ref- known as the Bharatpur Ghana Sanctu- uge as a bird sanctuary, which was achieved in ary, is one of the most enchanting waterfowl 1956. Subsequently, it was raised to the status refuges in the world. The Park is situated on of a National Park in 1980, which resulted the extreme western edge of the Gangetic (among other developments), in the stoppage of BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997) grazing by livestock in the Park (see box). The The total area of the Park is 29 km2. The Park’s designation as a Ramsar Site (1981) and a terrain is flat with a gentle slope towards the World Heritage Site (1985) have given it the in- centre forming a depression, which forms the ternational recognition that it deserves. main submersible area (c. 8.5 km2 - now reduced to 7.5 km2 according to a study) of the Park. This submersible area has been divided into various unequal compartments by means of dykes. Thick alluvium dominates the area. Patches of saline soil are common in terrestrial areas. The boundary of the Park is demarcated Keoladeo National Park & Buffaloes by a masonry wall and the Park is surrounded by about 18 villages. Buffaloes (and other livestock) were earlier an integral part of KNP. One of the The main source of water to the Park is purposes of setting up the refuge by the Ma- the Ajan Bund reservoir, which receives water haraja of Bharatpur was to protect the ‘sa- from the rivers Banganga and Gambhir. Sev- cred cow’ by the creation of grazing lands eral earthen bunds and sluice gates help to con- - otherwise the animals would stray into tain and regulate the water levels in the Park. crop fields and earn the ire of farmers. The water gradually dries up during May-June, leaving only small pools in the deeper areas. However, after the upgradation of the Sanctuary into a National Park, grazing was The climate of the area is subtropical, stopped in 1982 after demands from con- characterised by distinct summer, monsoon and servationists. This step affected about 7000 winter seasons. The rainy season is from late heads of buffaloes and cows. Since the ban, June till October, averaging 662 mm. January feral (a few hundred) account for the is the coldest month, with mean minimum tem- major part of the total herbivores of the perature of 6°C. Showers may also occur in Park, besides other wildlife like , winter. Summer sets in mid March, and maxi- Sambhar and Cheetal. mum temperatures average 45°C (June).

The removal of the primary consumer (buf- The vegetation of the Park can be di- faloes) from the wetland system was not vided into two major habitats - wetland and ter- without its impacts. One of these was the restrial. The forest vegetation, a relic of dry subsequent excessive growth of a perennial deciduous forest, is a mosaic of scrub, grass- grass, Paspalum distichum, which caused land and woodland. It has xerophytic and semi- several changes in the aquatic habitat, af- xerophytic species consisting predominantly of fecting many bird species. Experiments Acacia nilotica, Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora were conducted to control the overabun- oleoides and Capparis decidua communities. dance of this grass by methods such as bull- Mitragyna parvifolia occurs in patches. The dozing, controlled burning, harvesting etc., grass cover is dominated by Vetiveria but the problem still persists. The solution zizaniodes, Demostachya bipinnata and now suggested by scientists is controlled Cynodon dactylon. grazing by buffaloes, which is not without controversy, can create management prob- In the wetland area, the grass Paspalum lems, and has legal ramifications. distichum is dominant and widespread. Sedges such as Scirpus tuberosus and Cyperus rotundus General description of KNP occupy the border areas. The aquatic species include Nymphaea nouchali, N. stellata, BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997)

Nelumbium, Lemna, Azolla and Ipomoea 86, 10 in 1990-91 and 5 during 1992- aquatica. Submerged plants such as Hydrilla, 93. The did not comes to Najas, Vallisneria, Ceratophyllum and Bharatpur during 1993-94 and 1994- Potamogeton are also present. The exotic weed 95, but were present again during Eichhornia crassipes is kept under check annu- 1995-96 (4 birds) and 1996-97 (3 ally by manual removal. birds). Besides the decline in num- bers, the conditions in the Park are said to have become unsuitable for Wildlife the crane due to the excessive spread and growth of the grass Paspalum Birds: Of its wildlife, the Park is best known distichum after the ban on grazing by for its birdlife. Ornithologically, the Park is sig- buffaloes. nificant because of its strategic location as a stag- ing ground for migratory waterfowl, its multi- During 1992-93, two Siberian tude of birds, especially during winter, and as Crane chicks, reared in captivity, the breeding grounds for many bird species. It were released at Bharatpur. It was is extremely important as it is the only regular hoped that these birds would follow wintering area in India for the endangered Sibe- the wild Siberian Cranes that come rian Crane (see box). The major groups of birds in winter and add to the population represented in the aquatic area, in order of abun- of wild birds. If successful, more and dance, are Anatidae, Rallidae, Phalacrocoracidae more birds could be reared for the and Ciconiidae. same purpose. However, the chicks did not mix or migrate back with the wild birds and were taken back into captivity. During January 1994, four The in additional chicks were released with Bharatpur the earlier two birds. The experiment ended in a failure again, as no wild The Siberian Crane Grus Siberian Cranes arrived that winter leucogeranus is a highly endangered and the released birds either disap- crane of the world. There are three peared or died after some time. Four populations of this species: the west- more birds were introduced during ern, presently of 8-14 birds, that win- 1996-97. According to latest reports ters in Iran, the eastern, of about (August 1997), one of the birds was 3000 birds that winters in China, and found dead, two others have wan- the central, of 3 birds that winters in dered to areas outside the Park, and India. KNP is the only known win- only one bird still remains in the tering ground for the central popula- Park. Thus, the future of the central tion of the Siberian Cranes, which ar- population of the Siberian Crane ap- rive in November and leave around pears to be again in jeopardy. the end of February.

The numbers of cranes visiting the Park have shown an alarming decline over the decades. During 1964-65, about 200 birds were recorded at Mammals: Five larger herbivores, Sambhar KNP. Population declined with the Cervus unicolor, Cheetal Axis axis, Nilgai passing years: 76 in 1969-70, 61 in Boselaphus tragocamelus, Antilope 1975-76, 33 in 1980-81, 37 in 1985- BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997) cervicapra and Wildboar Sus scrofa, and six vilmostly agriculture based, except for those em- species of carnivores, Jackal Canis aureus, ployed in the Park and the nearby factories. Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena, Buffaloes are the main source of income for a Felis chaus, Felis viverrina, Toddy few families. The major source of fuel is dung- Cat Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Smooth In- cake, the absence of which leads to the collec- dian Otter Lutra perspicillata and also the large tion of wood and puts a strain on the Park’s eco- rodent, Porcupine Hystrix indica occur in the system. Park. Tourism: KNP, due to its vicinity to Delhi Reptiles & Amphibians: In all, 28 species and Agra (besides its birdlife), attracts about of reptiles including seven species of turtles, 90,000 visitors each year, and about 30% of eight species of lizards and 13 species of snakes these are foreigners. Studies had been under- have been recorded from KNP. Bharatpur is taken by the BNHS to document the impacts of well known for its pythons, and there are regu- tourism on the Sanctuary and its wildlife, and lar areas where they can be seen easily, which also the economic benefits to the locals and to are named Python Points by the Forest Depart- the Park. ment. Seven species of amphibians belonging to three families, namely Bufonidae, Studies Undertaken at KNP Microhylidae and Ranidae occur. The Bull- frog Rana tigrina (=Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) The Bombay Natural History Society and Skipper R. cyanophlyctis Frog initiated a Research Project known as the (=Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis) are common in the Keoladeo National Park Ecology Study at wetland area. Bharatpur (1980-1990). The main objective of the project was to collect data essential for Fish: The fish fauna of the Park consists of evolving a comprehensive management 43 species belonging to 8 orders, 16 families programme for the Park. The data presented in and 31 genera. Of the 43 species, only six spe- the final report of the decade long study (Vijayan cies, Channa punctatus, C. striatus, C. 1991) constitutes one of the major contributions marulinus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Clarias to the understanding of wetland ecology in a batrachus and Colisa fasciata are local and tropical man-made wetland. It was for the first breed inside the Park. The other species enter time ever that such a large scale ecosystem level the Park largely as fry along with the waters study was attempted in India. Investigations from the Ajan bund during the monsoon. covered the following multidisciplinary aspects of the ecosystem: meteorology, primary produc- Pollution: The BNHS study found concen- tivity, vegetation, studies on invertebrates, fish, trations of heavy metals such as lead, zinc and amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. copper in the tissues of fish. Thirteen species Heavy metal contamination and pesticide pol- of dead birds, including seven species of pis- lution to the ecosystem and wildlife was also civorous birds, recorded high levels of lead, studied. The socio-economics of the surround- zinc and copper. Pesticide residues (dieldrin) ing villages was studied during the tenure of in the brain tissues of the Grus the project, which was followed by two other antigone, Ring Dove Streptopelia decaocto and studies (Anonymous 1994a, 1994b, 1996 and Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia showed ald- WWF 1996). rin poisoning. Eggs of eight species of pis- civorous birds showed contamination by orga- Publications: The KNP is probably the most nochlorine compounds such as DDT, BHC, en- studied of all wildlife sanctuaries in India. Many dosulfan, dieldrin, heptachlor and heptachlor theses, reports, papers, books and booklets have epoxide. been published on the Sanctuary. Given below is a selected list of publications that have ema- Socio-economics: The economy of the nated from the Park. BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997)

thon and its possible us- of 1979-1980 at the Keoladeo Ghana age in population estimation. J. Bombay Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. J. nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 399-404. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 79: 1-37.

Bhupathy, S. & V.S. Vijayan (1989). Preda- Chandra, S. (1986-87). Water balance of a res- tion on the Indian Flapshell (Lissemys ervoir. Report TR. 8. National Institute punctata) in Keoladeo National Park, of Hydrology, Roorkee, pp. 47. Bharatpur, Rajasthan, pp. 27-33. Proc. National Symposium on Animal Daniel, J.C., Y.N. Rao & M. Ajgaonkar (1997). Behaviour (Ed. B.H. Patel). Sir P.P. In- Biodiversity of Keoladeo National Park stitute of Science, Bhavnagar. - A Case Study for Biophysical Evalua- tion. Capacity 21 Project Document. Bhupathy, S. & V.S. Vijayan (1989). Status, dis- Bombay Natural History Society, tribution and general ecology of the In- Mumbai. dian Python Python molurus in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. J. Bombay nat. Davis, A. (1966). Keoladeo Ghana. Newsletter Hist. Soc. 86(3): 381-387. for Birdwatchers. 6(5): 6-7.

Bhupathy S. & V.S Vijayan (1994). Aestiva- Davis, C.B., A. Van Der Valk, D. Mason, B. tion of turtles in Keoladeo National Park, Middleton & R. Williams (1988). Ecol- Bharatpur with special reference to ogy of a semi-tropical monsoonal wet- Lissemys punctata (Reptilia: land in India - The Keoladeo Ghana Na- Trionychidae). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. tional Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Final 91(3): 398-402. Report. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Bhupathy, S., V.S. Vijayan & R. Mathur (1993). A study on the wintering ecology of the Donahue, J. P. (1962). Are domestic animals Barheaded Goose (Anser indicus) in overgrazing the Keoladeo Ghana Sanc- Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, In- tuary in Rajasthan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. dia, pp.90. In: Wetland and Waterfowl Soc. 59: 645-649. Conservation in South and West Asia (Ed. M. Moser & J. Van Vessem). IWRB Donahue, J. P. (1964). A preliminary list of the & AWB. birds of Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 4(2): 7-9. Bhushan, B. & R.C. Sharma (1987). Ground wa- ter resources and development potential Drake-Brockman, D.L. (1905). A gazetteer of of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. Central Eastern Rajputana, comprising the native Ground Water Board WR, . states of Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli. Scottish Mission Indust. Co. Ltd, Ajmer. Bisht, N.S. & K. Gupta (1984). Biotic stress and population distribution of primary Ewans, M., T.D. Singh, R. Singh, J.A. Hancock producers in grassland ecosystem. Indian And Others. (1989) Bharatpur - Bird J. Ecology 11: 50-56. Paradise. Lustre Press, New Delhi.

Bora, G.K. & V. S. Saxena (1969). Birds of Futehally, S. (1967). A week in Bharatpur. Bharatpur Sanctuary. Indian Forester Newsletter for Birdwatchers 7(11): 7- 95: 753. 11.

Breeden, S. & B. Breeden. (1982). The drought Futehally, Z. (1972). A visit to Bharatpur. News- BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997) India. Ph.D thesis, Iowa State Univer- sity. Theses Muralidharan, S. (1994). Bio-accumulation of heavy metals in various trophic levels. Ajithkumar, C.R. (1992). Community and habi- Ph.D. thesis, Rajasthan University. tat segregation of fish in Keoladeo Na- tional Park, Bharatpur. Ph.D. thesis, Prakash, V. (1988). Status and ecology of the Kanpur University. raptors at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. Ph.D. thesis, University Bhupathy, S. (1985). Ecology of Purple of Bombay. Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio during winter in Keoladeo National Park, Ramachandran, N.K. (1993). Ecology of the Bharatpur. M.Sc. thesis, Bharathidasan Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Ja- University. canas in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Ph.D. thesis, Uni- Bhupathy, S. (1991). Population and resource versity of Bombay. utilization of waterfowl in Keoladeo Na- tional Park, Bharatpur. Ph.D. thesis, Sauey, R.T. (1985). The range, status and win- Rajasthan University. tering ecology of the Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus. Ph.D. thesis, George, J.M. (1988). Bioecology and popula- Cornell University. tion dynamics of the beetle Cassida circumdata Herbst in Keoladeo National Sivasubramanian, C. (1992). Ecology of the fish Park, Bharatpur. Ph.D. thesis, Univer- eating birds of Keoladeo National Park. sity of Agra. Ph.D. thesis. Saurashtra University.

Haque, M.N. (1988). Habitat utilization of wild Sridharan, U. (1989). Ecology of the resident ungulates in Keoladeo National Park, of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. M.Phil. thesis, Aligarh Bharatpur. Ph.D. thesis, University of Muslim University. Bombay.

Haque, M.N. (1990). Study of the ecology of Sundaramoorthy, T. (1991). Ecology of ter- wild ungulates of Keoladeo National restrial birds in Keoladeo National Park, Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Ph.D. the- Bharatpur. Ph.D. thesis, University of sis, Aligarh Muslim University. Bombay.

Jayaram, K. (1985). Wintering ecology of the Coot Fulica atra in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. M.Sc. thesis, Papers, Books and Booklets Bharathidasan University. Abdulali, H. & J.D. Pandey (1978). Checklist Maranko, M. (1989). Wintering behaviour of of the Birds of Delhi, Agra and the Siberian Crane in Keoladeo National Bharatpur. Published by the first author. Park, Bharatpur during 1988-89. M.Phil. thesis, Bharathidasan Univer- Ajithkumar, C.R. (1990). The fish community sity. of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, pp. 385-388. Proc. Middleton, B.A. (1989). Succession and goose 2nd Asian Fisheries Forum, Tokyo, herbivory in monsoonal wetlands of the Japan, April 1989. (Ed. R. Hirano & I. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Hanyu). The Asian Fisheries Society, BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997)

letter for Birdwatchers 12(2): 7-8. Hussain, S.A. (1992). Project. Executive Summary of the Final Report: George, J.M. & K. Venkataraman (1987). Oc- 1987-1992. Bombay Natural History currence and life history of Cassida Society, Bombay. circumdata Herbst (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Keoladeo National Mahajan, C.L. (1980). Effect of human activi- Park, Bharatpur, India. J. Bombay nat. ties on the structure and functioning of Hist. Soc. 84: 248-253. fresh water ecosystems of Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. A pre- Ghosh, S.N. (1978). Arthropod-borne virus ac- liminary report on the Man and Bio- tivity in migratory birds, Ghana Bird Sanc- sphere Project. Department of Science tuary, Rajasthan State. Indian J. Med. Res. and Technology, Government of India. 67: 192-196. Mahajan, C.L., N.K. Arora, S.D. Sharma & S.P. Gole, P. (1987). Observing the Sarus, Sharma (1982). Protozoan fauna of a pp.107-114. Proc. 1983 International wetland ecosystem (Bharatpur Bird Crane Workshop (Ed. G.W. Archibald & Sanctuary) during drought conditions, R.F. Pasquier). International Crane Foun- pp. 131-138. In: Wetlands: Ecology dation, Wisconsin. and Management (Ed. B. Gopal, R.S. Turner, R.G. Wetzel & D.F. Whigham). Grubh, R. B. (1969). Ghana Bird Sanctuary in International Scientific Publishers and January 1969. Newsletter for National Institute of Ecology, Jaipur. Birdwatchers 9(3): 1-2. Mahajan, C.L., S.D. Sharma, S.P. Sharma & Haque, M.N. (1988). Food habits of Smooth In- N.K. Arora (1982). Benthic fauna in a dian Otter Lutra perspicillata in Keoladeo wetland ecosystem (Ghana Bird Sanc- National Park, Bharatpur. Proc. Interna- tuary, Bharatpur) during drought con- tional Symposium on Asian Otters, Ban- ditions, pp. 145-148. In: Wetlands: galore. IUCN. Ecology and Management (Ed. B. Gopal, R.S. Turner, R.G. Wetzel & D.F. Haque, M.N. (1988). Some observations on food Whigham). International Scientific Pub- habits of Jackal Canis aureus in Keoladeo lishers and National Institute of Ecol- National Park, Bharatpur as shown by scat ogy, Jaipur. analysis. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 85: 185-186. Mahajan, C.L., S.P. Sharma, S.D. Sharma & N.K. Arora (1982). Changes in zoop- Haque, M.N. (1992). Some notes on the food hab- lankton populations in a wetland eco- its of Nilgai in Keoladeo National Park, system due to drought, pp. 139-143. In: Bharatpur. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 89: Wetlands: Ecology And Management 115. (Ed. B. Gopal, R.S. Turner, R.G. Wetzel & D.F. Whigham). International Scien- Higuchi, H., M. Nagendran, A.G. Sorokin & M. tific Publishers and National Institute of Ueta (1994). Satellite tracking of Com- Ecology, Jaipur. mon Cranes Grus grus migrating north Mathur, K.B.L. & V.S. Saxena (1968). Work- from Keoladeo National Park, India, 26- ing plan of Bharatpur Forest Division. 31. In: The Future of Cranes and Wet- Forest Department, Jaipur, Rajasthan. lands (Eds. H. Higuchi & J. Minton), Wild Bird Society of Japan, Tokyo, Japan. Mehta, M. & C. Satyanarayana (1979). A note BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997) Manila, Philippines. Anonymous (1994a). Conservation Education Project: Baseline Survey Report: Au- Ajithkumar, C.R. & V.S. Vijayan (1988). On gust 1994. Bombay Natural History So- the fish fauna of Keoladeo National Park, ciety, Bombay. Bharatpur, Rajasthan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 85: 44-49. Anonymous (1994b). Conservation Education Project: Community Conservation. Re- Ajithkumar, C.R. & D.D. Mittal (1993). Habitat port on Experimental Phase: March preference of fishes in wetlands in rela- 1994-September 1994. Bombay Natu- tion to aquatic vegetation and water chem- ral History Society, Bombay. istry. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 90(2): 181-192. Anonymous (1996). Community and Change. Report on Evaluation Survey: June Ajithkumar, C.R., V.K. Ramachandran & Arun 1996. Bombay Natural History Soci- Asthana (1995). Composition, abundance ety, Mumbai. and distribution of fish in Banganga-Gambhir river system and source of fish to the Archibald, G.W., Y. Shigata, K. Matsumoto & Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. J. Bombay K. Momose (1981). Endangered Cranes. nat. Hist. Soc. 92(1): 30-39. In: Crane Research Around the World Ali, S. (1927). The Mughal Emperors of India as (Eds. J.C. Lewis & H. Masatomi). In- Naturalists and Sportsmen. J. Bombay ternational Crane Foundation, Wiscon- nat. Hist. Soc. 32: 264-273. sin, U.S.A. Ali, S. (1952). The Keoladeo Ghana of Bharatpur Archibald, G. & S. Landfried (1993). Conser- Rajasthan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 51: vation measures for the Siberian Crane, 531-536. pp: 85-87. In: Wetland and Waterfowl Conservation in South and West Asia Ali, S. & S.A. Hussain (1982). Studies on the (Ed. M. Moser & J. Van Vessem). movement and population structure of IWRB & AWB. Indian avifauna. Annual Report I: 1980-81. Bombay Natural History Soci- Armantrout, Neil & V.S. Vijayan. (1989). Ecol- ety, Bombay. ogy of an Indian artificial wetland, pp. 911-914. (Ed. R. Hirano & I. Hanyu), Ali S. & V.S. Vijayan (1985). Recommendations The Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, for management of Keoladeo National Philippines. Park. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. Azeez, P.A., N.K. Ramachandran & V.S. Vijayan (1992). The socio-economics of Ali S. & V.S. Vijayan (1986). Keoladeo National the villages around Keoladeo National Park: Ecology Study. Summary Report: Park Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. In- 1980-1985. Bombay Natural History So- tern. J. Ecol. 18: 1-15. ciety, Bombay. Bhatt, K. & B.C. Choudhary (1993). The diel Anonymous (1977). Siberian Cranes Arrive at activity pattern of Indian Python (Python Bharatpur. Tigerpaper 4(2): 11. molurus Linn.) at Keoladeo National Park Bharatpur, Rajasthan. J. Bombay Anonymous (1990). A Directory of Wetlands in nat. Hist. Soc. 90: 394-402. India. Ministry of Environment & For- ests, Government of India. Bhupathy, S. (1990). Blotch structure in indi- vidual identification of the Indian Py- BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997)

on water supply to Ghana Bird Sanctu- Perennou, C. (1987). Vegetation Map of ary, district Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Cen- Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, tral Ground Water Board WR. Jaipur. Rajasthan. French Institute, Pondicherry and Bombay Natural History Society, Middleton, B.A. (1988). Food habits of wild Bombay. geese in India. J. Ecol. Soc. 1: 37-45. Perennou, C. & B.R. Ramesh (1987). Explana- Middleton, B.A. (1990) Effect of water depth and tory notes on the vegetation map of clipping frequency in the growth and sur- Keoladeo National Park. French Institute, vival of four wetland plant species. Pondicherry & Bombay Natural History Aquatic Botany 37: 189-196. Society, Bombay.

Middleton, B.A. (1992). Habitat and food pref- Prakash, V. (1988). Population and distribution erences of Greylag and Barheaded Geese of raptors in Keoladeo National Park, wintering in the Keoladeo National Bharatpur. Proc. International Sympo- Park, India. J. Trop. Ecol. 8: 181-193. sium on Raptors, Israel, March 1987. World Working Group on Birds of Prey, Middleton, B.A. & A.G. Van der Valk (1987). Berlin. The food habits of Greylag and Barheaded Geese in Keoladeo National Prakash, V. (1996). Status, distribution and Park. Wildfowl 38: 94-102. breeding biology of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina hastata in Keoladeo Moona, J.C. (1963). Notes on fish from National Park. In: Eagle Studies (Eds. Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. Records B.U. Meyburg & R.D. Chancellor). of the Indian Museum 58(2): 59-66. World Working Group on Birds of Prey, New Delhi. Berlin.

Murphy, P.G. (1975) Net primary productivity Prasad, V.P. (1988). Wetland angiosperms of in tropical terrestrial ecosystems, pp. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. J. 217-231. In: Primary Productivity Of The Econ. Tax. Bot. 12: 457-466. Biosphere (Ed. H. Leith & R.H. Whitaker). Springer Verlag, New York. Prasad, V.P. (1989). Flora of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 13: Nagendran, M., H. Higuchi & A. G. Sorokin 729-750. (1994). A harnessing technique to de- ploy transmitters on cranes, pp. 57-60. Prasad, V.P. & L. Vijayan (1990). Centrostachys In: The Future of Cranes and Wetlands aquatica - a rare species in India and its (Eds. H. Higuchi & J. Minton), Wild Bird occurrence in Rajasthan. J. Econ. Tax. Society of Japan, Tokyo, Japan. Bot. 14: 612-614.

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Venkataraman, K. (1988). Cladocera of Vijayan, V.S. (1991). Keoladeo National Park. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan II. Final Report 1980-1990. Bombay Natu- New Records. 1. Moinodaphnia ral History Society, Bombay. macleayii and 2. Bosminopsis deitersi Richard. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 85: Wolstencroft, J.A., S.A. Hussain & C.K. 229-233. Varshney (1989). Keoladeo Ghana Na- tional Park, pp. 407-411. In: A Direc- Venkataraman, K. (1992). Cladocera of tory of Asian Wetlands (Ed. D.A. Scott). Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur and IUCN, Gland. its environs. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 89: 17-26. WWF (1996). Participatory Management Plan- ning for the Keoladeo National Park. Vijayan, L & Vijayan, V.S. (1987). Status, dis- New Delhi, India. tribution and ecology of the Siberian Crane at Keoladeo National Park, India. ERS, NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS International Crane Workshop, China, May 1987. International Crane Founda- tion, Wisconsin. ∗ Salim Ali International Award for Nature and Nature Conservation: Mr. Zafar Vijayan, V.S. (1986). On conserving the bird Futehally is the first recipient of the Salim Ali fauna of Indian Wetlands. Proc. International Award for Nature Conservation, Indian Acad. Sci. (Suppl): 91-101 which was awarded to him in November 1996. He is the founder and editor of the Newsletter Vijayan, V.S. (1987). Keoladeo National Park for Birdwatchers. He had also served as the Ecology Study. Annual Report 1986. Honorary Secretary of the BNHS between Bombay Natural History Society, 1963 and 1974. Bombay. ∗ Bird Link Society (BLS): A Society, with Vijayan, V.S. (1987). The proposed galvalume objectives similar to the Tiger Link, the Bird plant of General Engineering Works and Link Society (BLS) was formed by Bikram Keoladeo National Park - An impact Grewal in January 1997. Its objectives are assesment. Bombay Natural History So- broadly to act as a dynamic forum to save ciety, Bombay. birds and their habitats, assist ecodevelopment around bird sanctuaries, research, and to pro- Vijayan, V.S. (1987). Vertebrate fauna of BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997)

mote education and disseminate information Birdwatch event to raise awareness of the regarding birds and their habitats. For more need for conservation of birds and their habi- details contact: Bikram Grewal, 101/4, tats will be held on 4-5 October 1997. World Kaushalya Park, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 Birdwatch was earlier conducted in 1993 & 016. 1995. Birdlife International is co-ordinating the event. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust: The Wild- fowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) became 50 The Bombay Natural History Society is the years old in November 1996. The WWT was co-ordinator for the World Birdwatch event founded by the late painter and naturalist Sir in India. The forms for the event were re- Peter Scott in November 1946 on the River ceived in September and were sent to vari- Severn at Slimbridge. His aim was to estab- ous organisations in different states of the lish ‘a centre for the scientific study, public country. display and conservation of the wildfowl of Groups all over the world will be organising public events centred around birds, and the world’. By 1996, the WWT had eight UK- drawing attention to the threats that birds are based Centres with work going on to establish facing. This year over 250 organisations in another in the heart of London. The WWT nearly 100 countries have registered for the has decided to change with the times, and has event. The event will draw attention to the revised its objectives to ‘WWT - working to plight of the 1,111 bird species that are threat- save wetlands for wildlife and people’ ened with extinction (this is nearly 11% of the world’s birds). The focus of the event ∗ National workshop on new economic policy, will briefly be: opportunities and challenges for sustainable development of fisheries and conservation To highlight the threats facing birds in one’s of aquatic resources, Bhopal, 6-7 Sept 1997. country; list out birds that need protection; identify and highlight the local and interna- Organised by the Oriental Research Foundation, tional bird groups that work and/or can in- E-1/106 Arera colony, Bhopal 462016. fluence protection to birds and their habitats; and find a way of balancing the needs of ∗ Asian Wetlands Conference: Theme: Wet- people and birds to secure the future of these lands for Sustainable Development, New globally threatened birds Delhi, India, 29-31 January 1998. For further information contact: Kathleen Organised by the Indian Environmental Society Rosewarne, Birdlife International, (U-112, Vidhata House, Vikas Marg, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge Shakarpur, New Delhi 110092. E-email: CB3 ONA, U.K. [email protected]) jointly with the E-mail: [email protected]. Science and Environmental Education Society. With Regards The conference will discuss the past, present and future of wetlands in Asian countries and shall cover a very wide range of topics con- cerned with all kinds of wetlands, their con- servation and management.

∗ World Birdwatch 97: The third World BUCEROS Vol. 2, No. 3, (1997)