Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Feb 12: After more than a century, the Wular lake in north Kashmir has once again become a thriving habitat for rare migratory birds, marking a significant conservation victory.
Officials at Wullar Conservation and Management Authorities (WUCMA) said that Asia’s largest freshwater lake has undergone significant changes in recent years, attracting a number of bird species, including tailed ducks, and solidifying its position as a hub for the wildlife in the region.
They said that the Long-Tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis), a migrant species last observed in Hokersar wetland in 1939, have only been detected after 83 years, while other smews have been found wading in the waters of Wullar after 112 years.
The Wular Conservation and Management Authorities (WUCMA) said that other birds that share the ecosystem of Wular Lake, such as the Common Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Common Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck, and others, had been observed recently. “A record number of migratory birds have visited Wular Lake this year, much to the pleasure of ornithologists, thanks to the eco-restoration of the lake,” it said
On January 22, 2023, five ducks were reportedly seen foraging in Wular Lake, according to the authorities.
According to a study published in the Journal of Threatened TAXA, the species is found breeding on the continents of Europe, Asia, and America and is classified as “very threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list (JoTT). It states that a small number of sites in India match the “1 percent requirement” necessary for their survival and expansion.
The Wullar Lake has been a site of environmental degradation for decades, with heavy human encroachment, pollution, and illegal fishing threatening the survival of the lake’s unique ecosystem. However, the restoration of the lake has been a major success story, with the local government, and the community working together to restore the health of the lake.
The officials at WUCMA said that restoration efforts have involved removing encroachments and illegal structures, controlling pollution, and reintroducing fish species that were once native to the lake. These efforts have had a positive impact on the migratory bird population that visits the lake each year, as the lake’s waters are now teeming with fish and other aquatic life.
“The majority of the sightings are in restored areas of the lake, indicating that restoration is bringing positive changes for biodiversity,” Mudassir Mehmood, Coordinator of Wullar conservation and management authority (WUCMA), told Excelsior.
He added that Wullar Lake is a prime example of how we can turn things around and restore the health of our wetlands. “The return of the migratory birds is a cause for celebration and a reminder that our efforts to protect the environment can have a real impact. This is a story of hope and a model for other communities facing similar challenges,” he said.
He said that the return of the migratory birds to Wullar Lake is a testament to the power of environmental restoration, and serves as a model for other communities facing similar environmental challenges. “The restoration of the lake has not only brought back the birds but can also help to revive the local economy, as the lake is a major tourist destination,” he said.
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