CAPACITY BUILDING FOR BIODIVERSITY AWARENESS

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR BIODIVERSITY AWARENESS Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of

Bachelor of Architecture By Vikrant V. Chaudhari Exam Seat No. AR-15-009 GUIDE: Prof. Swati Gupta

ADITYA COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE Mumbai

Mumbai University 2019-20

ABSTRACT India is one of the 12 megadiverse countries in the world, with variety of Flora and fauna and about 1,15000 species of plants & animals with great diversity of natural ecosystems like Grasslands, Desserts, Ghats , Forests , Mountains, Marine, Terrestrial etc. Over the years biodiversity has been of great importance to humans because it provides food, shelter, clothing, etc . But nowadays Biodiversity has reduced because of Destruction of forests, over-exploitation of resources, shifting cultivations, Urbanization, industrialisation, illegal activities etc.

According to a report "The Age of Extinction "there are 1 million species which are threatened and 50% of animals have been extinct since 1970. This leads to strategize the existing biodiversity and conserve them for sustainable future.

Hence, the concerned design proposal aims at creating a sustainable biodiversity institute which provides training, academic knowledge and advisory in conservation of biodiversity.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Aim .................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Hypothesis ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Scope and limitations ....................................................................................................... 2

2.

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 3

3.

LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 4 3.1 Biodiversity loss............................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Articles/News-reports related to Biodiversity loss .......................................................... 5 3.3 Articles/News-reports related to problems caused by biodiversity loss .......................... 9 3.4 Why Conserve Biodiversity? ......................................................................................... 11 3.5 How did the concept of Biodiversity Hotspot begin? .................................................... 12 3.6 Organization which conserve biodiversity hotspots Internationally .............................. 13 3.7 The major biodiversity hotspots in India ....................................................................... 14 a)

The Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site) .............................................. 14

b)

Himalaya .................................................................................................................. 15

c)

Indo-Burma .............................................................................................................. 15

d)

Sundalands ............................................................................................................... 15

3.8 Existing Forest cover in India ........................................................................................ 16 3.9 Existing Forest cover in Maharashtra ........................................................................... 17 3.10 Hotspots in Mumbai ..................................................................................................... 18 a)

Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) ..................................................................... 19

b)

Mangroves and Forests ............................................................................................ 19

c)

Aarey ........................................................................................................................ 19

d)

Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) ............................................................................. 19

e)

Elephanta Island ....................................................................................................... 19 ~i~

4.

f)

Powai Lake and IIT campus .................................................................................... 20

g)

Palm Beach Road ..................................................................................................... 20

h)

Raj Bhavan ............................................................................................................... 20

i)

Bhandup Pumping Station ....................................................................................... 20

j)

Mahalaxmi Race Course .......................................................................................... 20

k)

Ranibaug .................................................................................................................. 20

l)

Mahul, Sewri, Palm Beach Road and Thane Creek ................................................. 20

m)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Jijamata Udyaan ............. 20

FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE ............................................................................... 21 4.1 History of forests and wildlife institutes ........................................................................ 21 4.2 Importance of Institutes in Conservation ....................................................................... 21 4.3 Forest Research Institute in India................................................................................... 22

5.

CASE STUDY ................................................................................................................. 24 5.1 Forest Research Institute ................................................................................................ 24 a)

Aim and objectives of the Institute .......................................................................... 25

b)

Programs .................................................................................................................. 26

c)

Architecture.............................................................................................................. 27

d)

Research, Activities and Achievements ................................................................... 31

e)

How to reach ............................................................................................................ 32

5.2 Wildlife Institute of India............................................................................................... 33 a)

Mission..................................................................................................................... 34

b)

Aims and objectives ................................................................................................. 35

c)

Courses offered in the institute ................................................................................ 35

d)

Programs .................................................................................................................. 35

e)

Various departments in the institute......................................................................... 36

5.3 California Academy of Sciences .................................................................................... 38 a)

Main Lobby.............................................................................................................. 41

b)

Piazza ....................................................................................................................... 42

c)

Grand Hall................................................................................................................ 43 ~ ii ~

d)

Swamp ..................................................................................................................... 44

e)

East & West Halls .................................................................................................... 45

f)

Osher Rainforest ...................................................................................................... 46

g)

Kimball Natural History Museum............................................................................ 46

h)

Steinhart Aquarium .................................................................................................. 47

i)

Moss Room .............................................................................................................. 48

j)

Morrison Planetarium .............................................................................................. 49

k)

Tusher African Hall ................................................................................................. 50

l)

Research & Training Facility ................................................................................... 51

m)

Lecture Hall ......................................................................................................... 53

n)

Board Room ............................................................................................................. 54

o)

Living Roof .............................................................................................................. 55

p)

East Garden .............................................................................................................. 56

q) Terrace ......................................................................................................................... 56 5.4 Comparative table of case studies .................................................................................. 59 6.

VARIOUS SUBJECTS UNDER FORESTRY EDUCATION ....................................... 60 6.1 ANTHROPOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 60 a)

Scope, Job Opportunities ......................................................................................... 60

6.2 BOTANY ....................................................................................................................... 61 a)

Botany courses ......................................................................................................... 61

b)

Subjects .................................................................................................................... 61

c)

Scope, Job Opportunities ......................................................................................... 61

6.3 ENTOMOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 62 a)

Scope, Job Opportunities ......................................................................................... 62

6.4 HERPETOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 63 a)

Scope, Job Opportunities ......................................................................................... 63

6.5 ICHTHYOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 63 a)

Scope, Job Opportunities ......................................................................................... 63

6.6 ZOOLOGY & GEOLOGY ............................................................................................ 64 ~ iii ~

a)

Scope, Job Opportunities ......................................................................................... 64

6.7 ORNITHOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 64 6.8 MAMMALOGY ............................................................................................................ 64 7.

SITE STUDY .................................................................................................................. 65

8.

DESIGN PROGRAMS .................................................................................................... 71 8.1 Educational programs .................................................................................................... 71 8.2 COMMERCIAL ............................................................................................................ 72 8.3 Tourism .......................................................................................................................... 73

9.

AREA OF PROGRAMS.................................................................................................. 76

10.

CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................ 78

11.

BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................ 79

~ iv ~

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 : Map indicating world’s 35 hotspots

12

Figure 2 : Map indicating India’s 4 hotspots

14

Figure 3 : Forest cover in India

16

Figure 4 : Map showing Forest cover in Maharashtra

17

Figure 5 : Forest cover comparison among the states in Maharashtra

17

Figure 6 : Hotspots in Mumbai

18

Figure 7 : Map indicating forestinstitutes in India

23

Figure 8 : Forest research institute , Dehradun

24

Figure 9 : Computer Lab

26

Figure 10 : Laboratories

26

Figure 11 : Library

26

Figure 12 : Meeting room

26

Figure 13 : Lecture hall

26

Figure 14 : Museum

26

Figure 15 : The main facade of the building

27

Figure 16 : parking and ticket counter

27

Figure 17 : Pediment

28

Figure 18 : Sideview

28

Figure 19 : Sizing of windows in elevation

28

Figure 20 : Sizing of windows in elevation

28

Figure 21 : Interior spaces

29

Figure 22 : Indoor space front view

29

Figure 23 : Plan of the building

29

~v~

Figure 24 : Internal Courtyard

30

Figure 25 : Central Courtyard

30

Figure 26 : Vaults made of bricks

30

Figure 27 : Elevation

30

Figure 28 : Groin vault

30

Figure 29 : Domed tower

30

Figure 30 : Biodiversity in the campus

31

Figure 31 : Research activities

31

Figure 32 : Biodiversity park

31

Figure 33 : Group activity

32

Figure 34 : Species in campus

32

Figure 35 : species in campus

32

Figure 36 : Wildlife institute of India, Dehradun

33

Figure 37 : Wildlife institute of india, Campus

34

Figure 38 : Diversity around campus

34

Figure 39 : Meeting room

35

Figure 40 : Seminar hall

35

Figure 41 : Auditorium

35

Figure 42 : Computer lab

35

Figure 43 : Research lab

36

Figure 44 : Forensic lab

36

Figure 45 : Dining hall

36

Figure 46 : Research lab

36

Figure 47 : California Academy of science

38

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Figure 48 : Indoor programs of California Academy of science

38

Figure 49 : Plan of the building

39

Figure 50 : Section

39

Figure 51 : Section and internal layout plan

40

Figure 52 : Lobby space

41

Figure 53 : Reception and waiting area plan

41

Figure 54 : Piazza

42

Figure 55 : Plan of Piazza

42

Figure 56 : Skylight roof

43

Figure 57 : Section

43

Figure 58 : Ground hall plan

43

Figure 59 : Swamp

44

Figure 60 : Observation desk

44

Figure 61 : Plan of the swamp

44

Figure 62 : Plan of Swamp ( East and West Pavilion)

45

Figure 63 : Osher Rainforest section

46

Figure 64 : Osher rainforest

46

Figure 65 : Museum

46

Figure 66 : Exhibition

46

Figure 67 : Steinhart Aquarium

47

Figure 68 : Steinhart Aquarium

47

Figure 69 : Steinhart Aquarium Plan

47

Figure 70 : Moss Room

48

Figure 71 : Stairway to Museum

48

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Figure 72 : Moss room plan

48

Figure 73 : Morrison Planetarium

49

Figure 74 : Morrison Planetarium

49

Figure 75 : Plan of Planetarium

49

Figure 76 : Lecture in african hall

50

Figure 77 : wildlife dioramas

50

Figure 78 : African hall plan

50

Figure 79 : Research area

51

Figure 80 : Collection of specimens

51

Figure 81 : Research and training area

51

Figure 82 : Research area

52

Figure 83 : Meeting area for researchers

52

Figure 84 : Collection of specimens

52

Figure 85 : Lecture hall

53

Figure 86 : Lecture hall

53

Figure 87 : Lecture hall plan

53

Figure 88 : Board room

54

Figure 89 : Board room

54

Figure 90 : Board room plan

54

Figure 91 : Living room

55

Figure 92 : Living room

55

Figure 93 : Roof plan

55

Figure 94 : Eastern garden seating

56

Figure 95 : Eastern garden seating

56

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Figure 96 : Plan

56

Figure 97 : Section

56

Figure 98 : Terrace cafe

57

Figure 99 : Terrace plan

57

Figure 100 : Section and elevation

58

Figure 101 : Climatic data

65

Figure 102 : Herbal shop

67

Figure 103 :Herbal shop

67

Figure 104 : Roof farming

67

Figure 105 : Urban farming

67

Figure 106 : Forest products

67

Figure 107 : Forest products

67

Figure 108 : Natural history museum

68

Figure 109 : Natural history museum

68

Figure 110 : Dioramas

68

Figure 111 : Dioramas

68

Figure 112 : Coral Aquarium

68

Figure 113 : Aquarium

68

Figure 114 : Ecological pond

68

Figure 115 : Ecological pond

68

Figure 116 : Aquascape exhibition

69

Figure 117 : Aquascape exhibition

69

Figure 118 : Bonsai exhibition

69

Figure 119 : Bonsai exhibition

69

~ ix ~

Figure 120 : Botanical landscape

69

Figure 121 : Urban landscape

69

Figure 122 : Wildlife photographic

70

Figure 123 : Wildlife photographic

70

~x~

LIST OF TABLE Table 1 : Various forest institutes in India

23

Table 2 : Comparative analysis of institutes

59

Table 3 : List of Programs

71

Table 4 : List of Programs

72

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS NGT National Green Tribunal SGNP Sanjay Gandhi National Park IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature CI Conservation International BNHS Bombay National History Science ICFRE Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organizations

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1. INTRODUCTION The word Biodiversity originates from the Greek word “Bios” which means Life and Latin word “Diversitas” which means Diversity or Difference. The whole word “Biodiversity “means Variations of life forms found on earth.

Ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals and other organisms along with their habitat, weather conditions and surrounding landscapes form a complex system in which the living thing is one component of the ecosystem which is known as biodiversity.

Ecosystem and biodiversity are interdependent on each other for a balanced functioning of the system. Biologists most often define biodiversity as the “totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region. Biodiversity includes three main types 1. Genetic Biodiversity 2. Species Biodiversity 3. Ecological Biodiversity From early civilization the Biodiversity has been an integral part of human society.

Biodiversity in varied forms has been providing the needs of the humans from thousands of years. It has great importance for satisfying human needs like Clothing, shelter, medicinal use, food etc. But gradually over the years it has declined rapidly due to destruction of forests, overexploitation of resources, shifting cultivation, urbanization, industrialization, soil degradations, climatic changes, diminishing green cover etc.

1

1.1 Aim The main aim of the project is to build a sustainable research and educational institute which provides a better understanding towards the biodiversity and forestry knowledge, which helps in Conservation Strategies of Biodiversity

1.2 Objectives •

How can one architecturally develop a site without impacting the present biodiversity adversely?

•

Creating an informative awareness about the richness of biodiversity and also the potential harm of the biodiversity loss to the citizens.

•

Institute which undertakes and promotes biodiversity research, education, and provides sustainable management with special focus on Northern- Western Ghats.

1.3 Hypothesis Biodiversity institute which aims at providing research and education with scientific advices/support to higher authority level and getting involved in the decision-making policies regarding the conservation of Biodiversity.

1.4 Research Questions •

Why is it important for one to understand and learn about biodiversity?

•

How can an architect intervene in such sensitive zones like hotspots without disrupting the existing life forms adversely?

•

What is Biodiversity research institute and what does it offer?

•

How can architecture along with other programs can offer to the biodiversity and forestry education?

•

What kind of spaces does one need for a biodiversity institute? And different programs required for it.

1.5 Scope and limitations •

The scope of the research is to understand the importance of biodiversity and forestry education at Master’s and PhD level.

•

The study is limited to understand the biodiversity hotspots in Mumbai, Western Ghats.

2

2. METHODOLOGY ● Studying and researching about the various causes for biodiversity loss and why there is a need to conserve them? ● Studying the Hotspots in the world and in India. ● Organizations which conserve the Biodiversity hotspots. ● Studying the Green zones and Forest land of India. ● Details of type of biodiversity found in Mumbai’s Hotspot ● Biodiversity Institutes all over India and various programs required. ● Case study and comparative study on Biodiversity institutes Internationally and nationally. ● Site selection, justification and analysis. ● Listing the design program with areas.

Biodiversity

•Various causes for biodiversity loss and Why do we need to conserve them?

Biodiversity Hotspots

•Hotspots all over world and how did the concept of Hotspot begin?

Institutes

•How does education and Conservation go hand in hand?

Site Selection

3

3. LITERATURE REVIEW

3.1 Biodiversity loss There are various reasons for biodiversity loss but majorly it has lost due to following broader reasons •

Natural causes

•

Human interventions

•

Introduction of exotic species and genetically modified organisms

•

Pollution

•

Climate change

Human Interventions India, with its growing population is undergoing rapid urbanization. Large infrastructural and industrial projects are coming up with more people migrating towards the cities for employment facilities, more luxury and hence more development takes place (In 2010, India accounted for 11% of the world’s urban population with 377 million people living in cities Yet by 2031, 15% of the world’s urban population will come from India, with as many as 600 million people living in Indian cities (United Nations 2011). Changing lifestyle of people with increasing income both in rural and urban plays an impact on biodiversity.

4

3.2 Articles/News-reports related to Biodiversity loss

5

6

7

8

3.3 Articles/News-reports related to problems caused by biodiversity loss

9

10

3.4 Why Conserve Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is important for maintaining the ecological functions like maintaining the balance of water cycle, replenishing the soil fertility, helps in pollination and cross pollination of crops and other vegetation etc. As said by Einstein “No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man." "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live."

Conserving the biological diversity leads to conservation of various ecologies which maintains the balance in the food chain as said above how biodiversity provides various services to mankind in the form of food, shelter and forms a base of economy for various people like farmers, fisherfolks, forest dwellers etc.

•

“Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity” said by Prof David Macdonald, at Oxford University.

•

Biodiversity has a huge impact on the climatic conditions of the planet. And hence biodiversity is an important thing to study. Loss of biodiversity through human interventions leads to breakage of the small ecological cycles which are present in the nature which disturbs the whole climatic cycle. Like delay of monsoon, heavy floods, unbearable temperature rise during summers etc.

•

Medical research field which is also connected to the wellbeing of the human society needs dense biodiversity for research and other purposes like studying wildlife anatomy, physiology and biochemistry other fields of research.

•

It is an integral part of culture and identity where a particular biodiversity signifies a place which it belongs to.

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3.5 How did the concept of Biodiversity Hotspot begin?

The British environmentalist Norman Myers coined the term “Biodiversity Hotspot” in 1988 as a biogeographic region which has an exceptional level of endemic species and which is also on the verge of extinction. In 1990 Myers added a further eight hotspots, including four Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Conservation International (CI) adopted Myer’s hotspot as its institutional blueprint in 1989 and in 1996 the organization re-evaluated the hotspot concept.

According to Conservation International to qualify as a hotspot a region need to meet two criteria 1. First it needs at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics, 2. And second it has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.

In 1999, CI identified 25 hotspots and in 2005 CI published an updated 35 biodiversity hotspot.

Biodiversity Hotspots in the world

Figure 1 : Map indicating world’s 35 hotspots

12

3.6 Organization which conserve biodiversity hotspots Internationally •

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a global program that provides funding and technical assistance to nongovernmental organizations and participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity including: biodiversity hotspots, high-biodiversity

•

wilderness areas and important marine regions World Wide Fund has derived a system called the "Global 200 Ecoregions", the aim of which is to select priority Ecoregions for conservation within each of 14 terrestrial, 3 freshwater, and 4 marine habitat types.

They are chosen for their species richness, endemism, taxonomic uniqueness, unusual ecological or evolutionary phenomena, and global rarity. All biodiversity hotspots contain at least one Global 200

•

Ecoregion Plantlife coordinates several the world aiming to identify important plant area.

•

Birdlife International has identified 218 “Endemic Bird Areas” (EBAs) each of which hold two or more bird species found nowhere else. Birdlife International has identified more than 11,000 Important Bird Areas all over

•

the world.for Zero Extinction is an initiative of many Alliance scientific organizations and conservation groups who co-operate to focus on the most threatened endemic species of the world.

They have identified 595 sites, including many Birdlife’s

•

National Geographic Important Bird Areas Society has prepared a world map of the hotspots and ArcView shapefile and metadata for the Biodiversity Hotspots including details of the individual endangered fauna in each hotspot, which is available from Conservation International

13

3.7 The major biodiversity hotspots in India

Figure 2 : Map indicating India’s 4 hotspots

a) The Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site) The hills are present along the western edge of peninsular India. Around 77% of the amphibians and 62% of the reptiles found here cannot be spotted elsewhere in the world. There are more than 6000 vascular plants which belongs to more than 2500 genus. 3000 plants out of these are endemic. The region is also home to around 450 species of birds, 140 mammals, 260 reptiles and 175 amphibians. It is 56,825 sq km area spread over six states Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

14

b) Himalaya Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and that falling in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar).There are almost 163 endangered species in this region including one-horned rhinoceros, wild Asian water buffalo and as many as 45 mammals, 50 birds, 12 amphibians, 17 reptiles, 3 invertebrate and 36 plant species.

There are 10,000 species of plants in the Himalayas a third of which are endemic and cannot be located anywhere else in the world. Threatened species which are found here are Cheer pheasant, Western Tragopan, Himalayan quail, Himalayan vulture, White-bellied heron,siatic wild dogs, sloth bears, snow leopard, black bear, blue sheep and wild water buffalo. Namdapha flying squirrel. c) Indo-Burma Includes entire North-eastern India, except Assam (and Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China).Six species of mammals which can be found here are large-antlered muntjac, Annamite Muntjac, gray-shanked douc, leaf deer, saola and Annamite striped rabbit,1300 species of birds too can be spotted here including the white-eared night-heron, Gary-crowned crocias, and orange necked Patridge most of which are endangered. d) Sundalands This region lies in South-East Asia and includes Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands represent India. These islands were declared as the world biosphere reserve in 2013 by the United Nations. These islands have a rich terrestrial as well as marine ecosystem including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Species such as dolphins, whales, turtles, crocodiles, fishes, prawns, lobsters and seashells comprise the marine biodiversity.

15

3.8 Existing Forest cover in India

Figure 3 : Forest cover in India

16

3.9 Existing Forest cover in Maharashtra

Figure 4 : Map showing Forest Cover in Maharashtra

Forest cover in Maharashtra Area in km2

12000

10095

10000 8000 6000 2000

286 322

0

4198 2864 2568 2912 1775

4074

3187

4000

2011

557 891 175 2 120 589

321

104

1185

65

2007-2013

Year Ahmednagar

Akola

Amravati

Aurangabad

Bhandara

Beed

Mumbai City

Mumbai Sub Urban

Buldhana

Chandrapur

Dhule

Gadchiroli

Gondia

Hingoli

Jalgaon

Jalna

Raigarh

Kolhapur

RatnagiriH

SindhudurgH

ThaneT

Figure 5 : Forest cover comparison in Maharashtra

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3.10 Hotspots in Mumbai

Mumbai is financial capital of India and capital of Maharashtra. It is situated in a biodiversity hotspot of northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India.

The forest area is located in the middle of metropolitan Mumbai city. It is among the rarest of national parks (SGNP), surrounded on three sides by one of the densest cities on the planet.

The national park covers nearly ¼ of Mumbai’s land area which is 104 sq km. It is a hilly area contains two major lakes Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake within its boundaries as well as source of Dahisar & Mithi River Mumbai is a great example of how rich biodiversity can exist in cities, which has

Figure 6 : Hotspots in Mumbai

more than 1000 species of plants, Dense semi-evergreen forests 318 species of trees (50% of which are exotics), 1300 species of flowering plants,400 plus species of birds, and 40 species of mammals, 62 species of reptiles and 14 species of amphibians, 172 species of butterflies, 17 bat species as well as 10 coastline mangrove species were reported in this area and more than 1,000 other species of flora and fauna Mumbai has one of the largest protected urban areas in the world called Sanjay Gandhi National Park and it has one of the highest leopard density in India.

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a) Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) • Butterfly species: Common Jezebel, Baronet, Yamfly, Monkey Puzzle, Blue Mormon, Common Leopard, Common Wanderer, Common Bluebottle, Glassy Tiger, Tawny Rajah, Psyche and Great Orange Tip. • Flowers: Fox Brush Orchid, Hill Turmeric, Glory Lily, Common Marsh Buckwheat, Wild Lady Finger, Screw Fruit Bush, Common Balsam, Smithia, Jungle Flame, Graham’s Groundsel (Sonki), Hill Blepharis, Common Conehead and Forest Barleria. b) Mangroves and Forests • Snakes: Dog Faced water snake, Wart Snake (file Snake), Indian Rat Snake, Checkered Keelback, Buff Striped Keelback, Cobra among many others are found at various parts of the city. Dog Faced water snake and Wart Snake (file snake) are estuary snakes meaning, they are found close to mangrove areas across Mumbai. Other places to sight snakes in the city are SGNP, Aarey forests and MNP. c) Aarey • Bird species: Pied Starling, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Black Drongo, Indian Peafowl, Cattle Egret, Indian Robin, Black Redstart and Green Bee-eater.

• Butterfly species: Common Rose, Lime Butterfly, Common Sailer, Danaid Eggfly, Common Crow and Common Palmfly.

• Flowers: Commelina, Cat ears, Indian Sweet Pea, Giant Milkweed, Indian Borage, Yellow-Berried Nightshade and Oriental Sesame. d) Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) • Bird species: Black-winged Stilt, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Spotted Owlet, Great Egret.

• Butterfly species: Black Rajah, Common Emigrant, Blue Oakleaf, Plum Judy, Chocolate Pansy, Red Pierrot and Tailed Jay. • Flowers: Touch-me-not, Common Lantana, Jamaican Blue Spike and Silver Cockscomb e) Elephanta Island • Bird species: Brown-headed Gull and Black-headed Gulls, during the boat ride birds like Greater Black-headed Gull, Heuglin’s Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern Little Term, Common Sandpier, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Leser and Greater Sandplover, Terek Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Little Stint, Orange Minivet, Black-rumped Flameback, Paradise Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, and Common Chiffchaff.

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f) Powai Lake and IIT campus • Bird species: Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Little Cormorant, Purple Swamphen, Black Kite, Coppersmith Barbet and Shikra. g) Palm Beach Road • Bird species: Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Painted Stork, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Caspian Tern, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper. h) Raj Bhavan •

Bird species: Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Myna, Oriental White-eye,

Oriental Magpie-robin, Eurasian Wryneck, Red-vented Bulbul, Common Tailorbird and Indian Grey Hornbill. i) Bhandup Pumping Station • Bird species: Eurasian Spoonbill, Grey Heron, White-cheeked Bulbul, Indian Silverbill, Greater Coucal, Grey Francolin, Indian Spotbill, Western Reef Egret, Common Kingfisher and Red Avadavat. j) Mahalaxmi Race Course • Bird species: Plain Prinia, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, White Wagtail, Pied Starling, Indian Roller, Golden Oriole, Long-tailed Shirke- and Common Stonechat. k) Ranibaug • Butterfly species: Common Emigrant, Common Gull, Striped Tiger and Blue Tiger. l) Mahul, Sewri, Palm Beach Road and Thane Creek • Flamingos: Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos in thousands are seen in the mudflats of Sewri and Mahul and Palm Beach m) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Jijamata Udyaan • Bats: A huge colony of fruit eating bats also known as Flying Fox roost at Jijamata Udyaan, Byculla. Another colony is at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, right behind the head office of Bombay Natural History Society

(Inputs from naturalist Rahulratan Chauhan and ornithologist Asif Khan from Bombay Natural History Society)

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To Be Continued In Second Chapter ...