Zoo's Print July 2011

Magazine of Zoo Outreach Organisation Vol. XXVI No. 7, July 2011

ISSN 0971-6378 (Print); 0973-2543 (Online)

Judges selecting the best drawing at a competition organised by V.J.B. Udyan Zoo, Mumbai during World Environment Day 2011

Date of Publication: 21 July 2011

Magazine of Zoo Outreach Organisation Vol. XXVI No. 7, July 2011

ISSN 0971-6378 (Print); 0973-2543 (Online)

Contents Feature articles Bio-Secure feed store at Kanpur Zoological Park, K. Praveen Rao, Pp. 1-4 Declaration of “Aghanashini Liontailed Macaque Conservation Reserve�, Honnavalli N. Kumara, P. 5 Announcements JAZA continues donation appeal for sufferers of Tohoku Earthquake, P. 6 SOS - Announcement from SSC IUCN, P. 7

World Environment Day Education Reports, Pp. 8-12 Technical articles A checklist of birds of Department of Atomic Energy Campus, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, K. Jahir Hussain, T. Ramesh, K. K.Satpathy and M. Selvanayagam, Pp. 13-20 A checklist of birds of Machiya Safari Biological Park of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Chena Ram, Goutam Sharma and L.S. Rajpurohit, Pp. 21-23

Students adding leaves to the tree skeleton

Celebrating World Environment Day 2011, Pp. 8-12

Addition of two species of Utricularia L. (Lentibulariaceae) for the state of Maharashtra, R.S. Govekar and M.M. Sardesai, Pp. 24-25 Sighting of the Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus at Uppalapadu Heronry, Andhra Pradesh, India Nanjan Sheeba and Lalitha Vijayan, Pp. 26 Occurrence of Helminthostachys zeylanica (L.) Hooker in Surai forest range, Uttarakhand, Meraj Anwar, Ved Prakash Ola, Pp. 27-28 Velvet fracture in Hog Deer (Axis porcinus), Devaki, K.Senthilkumar, S.Sadasivam & M.G.Jayathangaraj, P. 28 Black crowned night heron at Kalpakkam Atomic Energy Campus. A Checklist of Birds of Department of Atomic Energy Campus, Kalpakkam, Pp. 13-20

Bio-Secure feed store At Kanpur Zoological Park K. Praveen Rao* Zoological parks are public places where a collection of wild animals are maintained for education, awareness, research and conservation purposes.

Visitors come to the zoological park mostly for recreation. The aim of the zoo manager is to maintain the zoo in such a way to inspire empathy for wild animals in the visitors. All this is possible only when the animal collection is maintained in good health and is kept in enclosures that emulate the natural surroundings of the animal.

Kanpur Zoological Park was established on an undulating area of 76.56 ha. The area was in Bangar area of the river Ganges. Khadar is an extension of the sandy banks of the river which further extends into Bangar. The entire area had been planted by George Burney Allen who was a British industrialist during the pre-independence period between 1813-1819. Hence the area of the zoological park is also known as Allen Forest and, indeed, the zoo gives the feel of natural forest. The animal enclosures are designed on the modern management principles and give sufficient space for the animals inside the enclosures, to express their biological behaviour and proper exercise. Thus the environment in which the animals are kept is consistent with good zoo practice which shows them in a good light to the public and enhances the respect of some visitors towards the animals.

From time to time in a zoo, animals contract a variety of infections due to feral animals inside the zoo, contact of visitors, contact with the zoo staff, etc.

In turn the zoo staff are in contact with zoo animals. Diseases transmitted from human to the animals and vice versa are called zoonoses. Foodstuffs which come from the farm and the dry feed stored in the zoo store also carry the disease spreading germs and also attracts flies and rodents which spread the diseases.

Some of the many diseases of wild animals and the causative organisms are in page 4.

Biosecurity: Biosecurity is a set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive alien species, living

Feed is mixed on the platform

Weighing fresh fruits on electronic weighing machine

modified organisms. While biosecurity does encompass the prevention of the intentional removal (theft) of biological materials from research laboratories, this definition is narrower in scope than the definition used by many organizations and institutions, such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

spread of these biological agents both natural and managed. Although security is usually thought of in terms of "Guards, Gates, and Guns", biosecurity encompasses much more than that and requires the cooperation of scientists, technicians, policy makers, security engineers, and law enforcement officials.

These preventative measures are a combination of systems and practices put into place at legitimate bioscience laboratories to prevent the use of dangerous pathogens and toxins for malicious use, as well as by customs agents and agricultural and natural resource managers to prevent the

Biosecurity is defined as “ all the cumulative measures that can or should be taken to keep the diseases away (viruses, bacteria, fungi,

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* Conservator of Forests, Director Kanpur Zoological Park, Kanpur, U.P. Email: kanpurzoo@gmail.com

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fruits and vegetables in which the fruits and vegetables are weighed, cleaned with Potassium permanganate solution, then cleaned with fresh water and sent to various enclosures for consumption. The entrance of these halls had wooden frame and doors and floor had ceramic tiles. The weighing was done with the help of a simple balance. As only fresh vegetables and fruits are kept here for a very small period, there was not much problem of hygiene in this section.

Fly proof doors

The other hall in which the dry feed is stored has a cemented floor and the doors and frames were made of wood.

The feed mix was prepared on the floor and then stored in gunny bags.

This hall attracted rodents. The rodents even cut the wooden frame and entered the hall for dry feed.

Another problem was the vendors and the staff entering into the store without going through any selfsanitation and thus had chances of spreading infections. Earlier the feed was transported in iron containers which ran a risk of getting corroded and leading to infections. Keeping these in view a series of initiatives were taken, which are listed below: 1. More than six pairs of footwear were kept at the main entry gate to the store. The staff, the supervisors and the vendors were instructed to leave their own footwear outside the stores and wear the footwear provided by the zoo.

Plastic containers to transport feed to enclosures

protozoa, parasites), from a farm and to prevent the transmission of diseases (by humans, insects, rodents, and wild birds/animals) among the resident animals of the infected farm and from an infected farm to the neighboring farms.”

FAO uses the term, Biosecurity, in relation to sanitary, phytosanitary and zoosanitary measures applied in food and agricultural regulatory systems.

FAO uses the term synonymously with “Biosecurity in food and agriculture”.

Biosecurity is a relatively new concept and a term that is evolving as usage varies among countries with different specialist groups using it in different ways. For FAO, Biosecurity broadly describes the process and objective of managing biological risks associated

with food and agriculture in a holistic manner.

Many of the diseases are transmitted through contaminated food and water.

In Kanpur Zoological Park, the water is pumped from deep bore wells, hence the contamination of water is a remote possibility. Thus the first step in biosecurity forms the food bio-security measures.

Keeping this in view the store of the Kanpur zoo was found unfit to check the depredations of the rodents and house flies. The store was renovated with funds from Central Zoo Authority in the year 2008-09. With the financial assistance from the CZA the ceiling of the store was replaced and white washed. The zoo store has three big halls, a toilet and another room. One of the halls is used for storing of fresh

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2. They were advised to sanitize themselves in the washroom attached with the stores (the wash room was a lavatory earlier, though it was not used for defecation, it was converted into a bathroom by closing the w.c.).

3. The staff who weigh the fresh stores were provided with aprons, so that the contact between the clothes and the fresh stores like fruits and vegetables could be avoided.

4. The wooden doors in fresh vegetable and fruit stores were replaced with iron doors with mosquito proof nets.

Wooden frames were replaced with angle iron frames. Similarly in the dry stores the wooden frames were replaced with angle iron frames and the doors were replaced with fully paneled iron doors and another pair of doors with only mosquito proof nets were fixed. This arrangement was done with a view to keep rats away when

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the stores is not in use. When the stores is in use for preparing the feed mix (feed mix is prepared in the zoo itself by purchasing various cereals and pulses and are ground and then are mixed in predetermined percentages by weight to prepare a balanced diet) fully paneled doors are kept open and the mosquito proof net doors are closed, so that free circulation of air is not inhibited and the flies and rodents are controlled.

5. The dry ration stores had cemented floor and the feed mixture was prepared on the floor, this had every chance of contaminating the feed mix.

Hence a raised platform of about 9 inches from the ground level was constructed and floor tiles were fixed on it. Now the feed is mixed on an elevated platform, hence the possibility of contamination has been minimized. Similarly floor tiles were laid in the entire hall and wall tiles were also fixed up to the height of 6 feet from the ground level, so that the hall remains safe from dampness.

Washing vegetables

6. When the feed mix is prepared, the ground up cereals, pulses, husks, mineral mix and liver tonics are thoroughly mixed. Dust is raised when the feed combination is manually mixed. This may cause dust allergy for the staff so to overcome this possibility, face masks have been provided to the staff.

7. An exhaust fan is fitted in the dry ration store to suck out the dust raised during mixing of the feed.

Stainless steel containers for storing after cleaning

8. A cement masonry rack was constructed on one side of the hall, to stack the feed mix prepared. This rack was also tiled. Some air space was left between the wall and the rack so that air circulation of the rack is not obstructed and moisture deposited on the joint of wall and the rack is done away with.

9. Stainless steel containers were bought to stock the feed in place of iron containers to eliminate the problem of corrosion.

10. An electronic balance is placed in the stores for taking the accurate weights of fresh stores so that predetermined weight of proper feed quantity is supplied for the consumption of animals.

11. The fresh stores such as vegetables and fruits were washed in iron containers kept on the floor.

Presently two stainless steel wash basins have been fixed in fresh vegetable and fruit stores for washing with potassium permanganate solution and then subsequent cleaning with water.

12. Similarly a stainless steel wash basin has been provided in the meat house for proper washing of meat before serving.

13. The vegetables and fruits are transferred to heavy duty plastic containers after weighing and cleaning.

The plastic containers are regularly washed with proper detergents and once in a week in mild acid solutions.

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This would ensure germ free environment for the feed.

Thus the steps taken have helped in reducing the disease breaks and reduced expenditure on our medicals bill. Since the time these measures are initiated, the breeding of rare and endangered animals like tigers, leopards, and hyenas has gone up. The survival rate of the animals was also on the rise. In the year 2010-11 the mortality rate was 4% of the total animals. Thus we hope that the biosecurity measures adopted in the stores helped in ex situ conservation of the zoological park.

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Some of the diseases of wild animals and the causative organisms are as follows –

I. Bacterial Diseases: • Anthrax: Caused by Bacillus anthracis is of three types 1- Cutaneous anthrax, inhalation anthrax, gastro intestinal anthrax. Animals likely to become infected are Spotted deer, gaur, hog deer, sambar, leopard, primates, rhinos, etc. The blood smear of infested animals shows short chains of rods with truncated ends.

• Clostridial infections: caused by • Clostridium perfringens type D-enterotoxaemia in deer, sloth bear.

• Clostridium chauvoei-black quarter in black buck.

• Clostridium tetani-tetanus in elephants, rhinos etc.

Symptoms: In enterotoxaemia infections the affected animals present a ballooned up intestine, congestion in other organs and black quarter affected animals show symptoms of gangrenous myositis.

• Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, foxes etc.

It is transmitted through infected soil, water, urine and tissues of infected animal. The disease strikes tigers, deer, elephants, lions, sambars, nilgai, black buck and other animals. The important symptoms are stillbirth and abortion in the infested animals.

• Paratuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in spotted deer and in swamp deer. The disease spreads from ingestion of food and water contaminated by feces of infected animals. The main signs of the disease are diarrhoea and severe emaciation • Pasteurellosis is caused by Pasteurella multocida, P. haemolytica in sambars, nilgai, spotted deer, black buck, hippos, lion, tiger, wolf etc. animals, causing congestion in their internal organs, haemorrhage, consolidation in lungs etc.

• Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis in baboons, rhesus monkeys etc. which show symptoms of fever, dullness early prostration, etc. The disease is spread by infected fleas and rodents.

• Staphylococcosis is caused by Staphylococcus aureus in tigers, lions, rhinos and zebras, causing arthritis and enteritis in them.

• Salmonellosis: This disease occurs in zoos due to the poor management of the animals; raw eggs and is frequently seen in sambars, black bucks, jackals, leopards, chimps, rhinos etc characterized by the symptoms like diarrhoea, dysentery etc • Tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Rhinos, non-human primates, giraffes, deer-barking, hog, Manipur deer, spotted deer, sambar, nilgai, black buck, elephants, lions, tigers, leopards, bears, pythons, crocodiles, etc. It infests lungs, intestine, and viscera of these animals. The main route of infection is through the respiratory tract.

• Shigellosis: occurs in lions, tigers, primates, etc. with the infested animals showing symptoms like pyrexia, dysentery. The disease is characterized by severe in intestine, diarrhoea, mucus and blood in the stool.

II. Viral infections: • Aflatoxicosis: is caused due to contaminated food in bears and deer. The kidneys become pale in colour, grayish white nodules can be seen on liver of infested animals

• African horse sickness: commonly occurs in horses, zebras, monkeys, etc. spreading disease spreads through culicoides bites, and from infected domestic equines.

• Rabies: occurs in tigers, Sloth bears, lions, civets, jackals, leopards, rhinos, etc. The disease spreads mainly among the residents of the zoo through stray animals which sneak through the barriers, such as dogs and free ranging animals like civets.

• Foot and mouth disease: caused by ‘O’ Asia-1 strain in Artiodactylans. The source of infection among the animals of zoo can be contaminated grasses brought from infested areas (outside the zoo).

• Rinderpest: seen among nilgai, sambar, chitals, etc. The infection among wild ruminants is mostly air-borne and by ingestion of contaminated food. The infested animals show symptoms of diarrheic feces containing blood. Oral and nasal mucosae-hemorrhages, abomasal mucosaswollen and congested, caecal and colonic mucosae, mesenteric lymph nodes are some of the commonly occurring other symptoms of the disease.

• Canine distemper: caused by RNA paramyxovirus. It is caused in small pups. Canine distemper virus tends to orient its infection towards the lymphoid, epithelial, and nervous tissues.

• Infectious hepatitis: (jaundice) causes inflammation in the liver, loss of appetite, fever. The disease is caused by contaminated water and food.

• Infectious feline enteritis: occurs in felids with symptoms of pasty-watery diarrhoea and rapid emaciation and dehydration.

• Mycotic diseases: Intestinal candidiasis—in sambar, black buck.

Nercotic dermatomycoses— in gharial Dermatomycoses —in chital, tiger, lion hyena etc.

III Some of the helminthic diseases are Trematodiasis: Fasciolosis, Paragonimosis, Schistosomiasis, Paramphistomiasis.

Cestodiasis: Taeniasis, Dipylidiosis, Echinococcosis, Diphyllobothriosis.

Nematodiasis: Ascariasis, Oxyuriasis, Capillariasis.

IV Some of the protozoan diseases are: Trypnasomiasis, Plasmodiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Sarcocystosis, Coccidiosis, Babesiosis, Entamoebiasis, Trichomoniasis, Leishmaniasis.

References: Disaster management plan for Indian Zoos by R Hemanth Kumar, IFS Deliberations on Bio security of Food and Agriculture, of committee on Agriculture, FAO, seventeenth session held at Rome, from 13th March to 4th April, 2003.

Acknowledgments: I take the opportunity to thank Mr. B.K. Patnaik, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, U.P. Lucknow for constant encouragement. I thank Mr. B. S. Bonal, Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority, and Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta, Evaluation and Monitoring Officer, Central Zoo Authority for timely indicating the lapses in the fresh stores and dry stores. I thank Mr. K.K. Jha, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Ecodevelopment, U.P. Lucknow for thought-provoking discussion on the subject matter. I thank Mr. Maneesh Mittal, IFS, Dy. Chief Wildlife Warden for encouragement. I thank the field staff Kanpur Zoological Park for implementing the Biosecurity measures adopted in letter and spirit.

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Declaration of “Aghanashini Lion-tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve” Honnavalli N. Kumara* The existence of population of lion-tailed macaque with about six to ten groups in the forests of Sirsi-Honnavara was known from the earlier surveys by Karanth and Bhat (Karanth, 1985; Bhat, 1982). However, during the later study in 2000, revealed that there are about 650 lion-tailed macaques in 32 groups found in the Sirsi – Honnavara region (Kumara and Singh, 2004). During the same study period, we have found that severe decline of the lion-tailed macaques from Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary as well in surrounding reserved forests. Further surveys in Kudremukh NP, Someshwara WLS, and Mookambika WLS, conducted during 2007, with the support from Vijay Ranjan Singh, DFO revealed second largest population which is a part of Kudremukh NP-Someshwara WLS with 24 groups in the Western Ghats of Karnataka (Kumara and Singh, 2008).

Later surveys in Talakavari WLS, Pushpagiri WLS, and Sharavathi WLS, with the support from Rufford Small Grants, revealed more than 50% decline in lion-tailed macaques’ population in all these parks (Kumara, 2007; Kumara and Sinha, 2009).

A detailed survey along with Vijay Mohan Raj, DFO and Mr K. Santhosh, with the financial support from Karnataka Forest Department, Rufford Small Grants, Primate Action Fund (Conservation International) and Primate Conservation Inc was carried out in 2008. This study confirmed the results of our earlier survey of largest LTM population in this region (Kumara and Singh, 2008) which formed the basis to identify the area as a potential conservation reserve for the lion-tailed macaque. A plan was submitted to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in 2008 and also presented to Western Ghats Task Force Committee. It was considered as one of the priority issues by the Western Ghats Task Force Committee during the meeting in 2008 - 09. We have continued to carry out studies on various taxa and conservation related issues of lion-tailed macaques with the help of Karnataka Forest Department and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund-Small Grants in this region while pursuing with officials to form a lion-tailed macaque Conservation

Reserve for the region adding little more sensitive forests along Aghanashini River and other important fauna and flora of the region to strengthen the fact. In this regard boundary was re-marked with the technical support by Balachandra Hegade and anew proposal was prepared. Manoj Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forests submitted the proposal to the State Govt. Efforts was made to pursue with the state Wildlife Advisory Board. A GO has been passed to notify an area of 299.52 sq km as “Aghanashini Lion-tailed macaque Conservation Reserve” on 13/06/2011.

References: Bhat, H.R. (1982). Additional information on the status of the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) in Karnataka.

Paper presented at the Intern Sym on Lion-Tailed Macaque.

Baltimore, May 19-22.

Karanth, K.U. (1985). Ecological status of the lion-tailed macaque and its rainforest habitats in Karnataka, India.

Primate Conservation 6:73-84.

Kumara, H.N. (2007). Impact of Local Hunting on Abundance of Large Mammals in Three Protected Areas of the Western Ghats, Karnataka. Technical Report, submitted to Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation, London, UK. National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India.

Kumara, H.N. and Singh, M. (2004). Distribution of primates and conservation of Macaca silenus in rainforests of the Western Ghats, Karnataka, India. International Journal of Primatology, 25: 1001–1018.

Kumara, H.N. and Singh, V.R. (2008). Status of liontailed macaque (Macaca silenus) population in Kudremukh forest complex, Karnataka, India. International Journal of Primatology, 29: 773-781.

Kumara, H.N. and Sinha, A. (2009). Decline of the endangered lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus in the Western Ghats, India. Oryx, 43: 292-298.

* Scientist, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore. Email: honnavallik@gmail.com

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An Announcement from SSC IUCN The Species Survival Commission, IUCN has issued the first call for proposals for Save Our Species (SOS) a global initiative to support threatened species and their habitats. SOS has been founded by IUCN together with the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Save Our Species provides grants (between $25,000 USD to $800,000 USD) for conservation action on the ground, focusing on specific threatened species and their habitats.

You are welcome to apply for an SOS grant in one of its 3 strategic directions in this round: • Threatened Asian and African mammals • Threatened amphibians • Critically Endangered birds Overview SOS grants will fill a vital gap for medium-sized to large grants that can be applied specifically to saving threatened species and their habitats.

Application Guidelines The SOS working language is English. In order to facilitate the revision of the large number of proposals that are expected, applicants are encouraged to consult the instructions for applicants before submitting an application through the SOS Online Application Tool on the SOS website. http://www.sospecies.org/grants/overview/ The deadline for the submission of Threatened Species Grants is August 12, 2011 at 17.30 (Central European Time) but applicants are encouraged to submit prior to the deadline in order that the processing and review of their proposals can begin sooner. Applications for Rapid Action Grants can be submitted on an ongoing basis.

Importance of biodiversity

Species approach

SOS uses a species approach. It is a response to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Its primary objective is to improve the status of threatened species and their habitats.

Extinction crisis

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World Environment Day 2011 - Education Reports NESSA Chennai celebrates World Environment Day The three dimensional theme of Celebration, Reflection and Call to Action of International Year of Biodiversity 2010, has paved the way to the necessity of protecting the forest. The forest is not only the habitat of animals but also has its 4 fold roles namely the subsistence needs, environmental uses, industrial uses and genetic store house. Hence the UNEP has coined this year W.E.D`s with the theme Forest-Nature at Your Service. Two days program was organized on 4-5 June 2011, by NESSA, Chennai to the children, youth and adult of 65 in number. Dr. E. Alwin Thomas, The Director Nessa, welcomed the gathering and gave the introductory talk. The first day’s programme included five topics first including benefits of forest which were told after which the WED logo was explained as the tree of action programmes.

In session two the WED logo was explained and the WED...ABCs according to the age group the participants were divided in to share and spread the importance of forest. In the last session a role play was conducted about uses of frog and the reason for the decreasing number and the steps to be taken to protect them.

In day two, the coordinator along with the participants shared about the importance of forest and the role to be played by each individual to the congregation in the Ru-ah Church with the materials supplied by ZOO. Sapling was also distributed to them. The coordinators sharing were viewed globally in Live Web Cast through WWW.RuahTV.org between 12.45 to 1.00pm.

WED programme for Self Help Group, Kovilambakkam, Chennai Another programme was conducted for the family members of Self-Help Group of Kovilambakkam, Chennai. Nearly 35 participants attended the program. The fourfold benefits of forest, the description about the WED logo and the importance of frog were explained.

As many of them were school and college students, the day’s program was very interesting. Few of the participants identified the endangered species from the posters. As many of them have seen frogs in their village,

ZOO’s WED and amphibian education materials blown up in flex sheets

Dr. E. Alwin Thomas distributing saplings to participants

Demonstrating method of obtaining bark impressions on trees

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Self Help Group members getting ready for the cultural programmes

Students are enthusiastically competing to respond to quiz questions

K.K. Singh, Curator planting a tree sapling

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the kids quickly grasped the points about the frog and did the role play wearing mask, placard and rakhi. They were divided into groups to do a small activity on tree from root to tip. The activity on "Bark Impression" was carried out on coconut tree, morinda tree and neem tree. They were thrilled to see the difference and decide to select five plants in their village to do the follow up work. Rev. Purusothaman, The Project Manager encouraged the participants to do various types of cultural programs in village meetings and in schools. He proposed the vote of thanks and appointed a leader in the Self-Help Group to send a follow up- report.

Submitted by: Mrs. Jessie Jeyakaran. Ramapuram, Chennai.

Email: jessyjey@rediffmail.com Yenepoya School, Mangalore report on Environment Day Programme On 18 June 2011, The Yenepoya School, Mangalore organized WED program for high school students with educational support of Pilikula Regional Science Center Society, Mangalore and Zoo Outreach organization, Coimbatore. Smt. Shanta, Event Manager, Yenepoya School coordinated the programme. The programme started with sapling-plantation in the school’s premise by K. K. Singh, Curator, PRSC. Then inauguration observance and first with a lecture on “Nature & Biodiversity” by Shri K. K. Singh. There were educational games “Who Am I?” & “Web of Life” under the supervision of Education Assistants, PRSCS. Educational resources, provided by Zoo Outreach organization, were greatly helpful in this session of the programme. About sixty students took participate in the programme and bore paper made animal’s masquerade over their face. Participants were delighted to engage-in-recreation during the programme. Thanks to Zoo Outreach Organization for printed materials. Submitted by Dr. K. V. Rao, Email. Kvrao_44@yahoo.com APOWA observed World Environment Day This year, Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA) celebrated World Environment Day jointly with District Environmental Society, Kendrapara and Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar at Badkot village under Rajnagar block on 5 June 2011. On this occasion, the chief guest was inaugurated a film on Bhitarkanika and a newsletter ‘Sabuja Sakala’ of Ecoclub (national green crops) produced

by Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar. Some six Prakuti Bandu awards by Dept. of Forests and

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Environment, from six different blocks of the Kendrapara district were given away at the function. The Prakuti Bandhu awards were conferred upon individuals for their outstanding contribution in the field of environment. The chief was also presented an award to Sri Anadi Charan Swain of Badkot village as a best organic farmer. A plantation activity was also organized at the end of the programme. All the resource persons and participants were participated in plantation activity. WED thanks ZOO for educational materials used the materials to teach students and villagers. Submitted by: B.K. Kabi, APOWA, email: mail@apowa.org Chambal Conservation Initiative, Madhya Pradesh- World Environment Day Report World Environment Day took place at Science Hall, Gwalior with Govt.

College, and Chambal Conservation Initiative, Gwalior. ‘Biodiversity of Chambal Region’ was presented by Sy.General, CCI about the importance of Chambal Region biodiversity for local communities. Two important protected areas, National Chambal Sanctuary, and second is proposed second home for Asiatic Lion, Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary. He also discussed in Chambal Ravines is found ravines thorn forest, one of the type of forest according to Champion and Seth, 1968. Chambal River is only home for largest breeding population of critically endangered Gharial in India. In the Chambal River, 7 species of turtles, 240 species of residential and migratory birds and approximate 40 species of terrestrial and aquatic vegetations are present. Dr. Taigor is also given details of Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary. In the last session, wildlife movies were shown and explained to the entire students. Four wildlife movies “Kuno Ka Jadu”, “The Chambal reverine Sanctuary” ‘The great Cats of India’ and ‘The Vanishing Vultures’ (Hindi) were shown.

Environmental education materials also are given for awareness about species conservation, Biodiversity Conservation and environmental conservation in students. 200 students of graduate were participated. Submitted by Dr. S. R. Taigor, Chambal Conservation Initiative, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Email: maachambal@gmail.com De Paul School celebrates World Environment Day De Paul International Residential School celebrated the World Environmental Day. The Principal Rev. Dr. Jose Aikara released the poster specially designed for this occasion by

Releasing of newsletter “Sabuja Sakaja”

Gwalior Govt. College students group photo after celebration of W.E.D. with ZOO's educational materials.

Students adding leaves to the tree skeleton that was drawn on the De Paul School amphitheater wall

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friendly life style as mentioned in the brochure distributed. Academic Dean Mr. Sunny Francis invited selected students along with their class teacher from every class to add leaves to the huge skeleton of Tree. He explained the importance of trees in our life. A huge tree skeleton was drawn on the school amphitheater wall. Saplings were also planted around the campus by our principal, teachers, and students.

It was a worthwhile experience for the students to join hand in hand in planting trees and to learn the importance of forests, its protection and conservation. Ms. Mamatha Sathyanarayana, Mysore. Email: mamathamys@gmail.com

Pupils from De Paul school on W.E.D. displaying posters provided by ZOO

Department of Registration, TN joins hand with NGO’s in tree plantation TREE Trust, in collaboration with ATREE, Bangalore and ZOO, Coimbatore, celebrated World Environment Day on 03 June 2011 at Sub registrar Office Campus, Kallidaikurichi, Tirunelveli. The main objective behind the programme was to establish a biodiversity enrichment

Zoo Outreach Organisation, Coimbatore. While speaking on this occasion, he highlighted the need for the conserving the forest and promoting a much sustainable relationship with nature. Jerry of tenth grade presented a talk on W.E.D significance and UNEP projects. Jenial and Charls conducted quiz based on theme “Forests of India”. Winners were awarded by school principal.

They all received set of beautiful WED poster, brochure and sticker designed

by Zoo Outreach Organization as their prize. Bobby Joseph read W.E.D oath to the school to repeat after him. Pupil took oath and committed to follow eco

Tree Guards decorated with sponsor and organizers names

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Future leaders plant a tree

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protection and conservation of environment, nature trails for showing the rare trees inside the premises of the zoo and a drawing camp for the students of Gurukul School of Arts, Lalbaug. In all 10,522 citizens visited the zoo on the day. Posters of environment on the Earth, in Marathi, Hindi & English languages were displayed at the zoo gate. Two Nature trails for giving information about the rare and important trees inside the premises with 68 visitors and students visiting the trails.

Participants hear a short presentation on the importance of tree during a walk on the nature trail at V.J.B. Udyan Zoo

zone by planting trees to lure birds, insects, invertebrates etc to the selected spot which is very closely located to Manimuthar Hills of Western Ghats.

K.S. Sankarsubramanian, Secretary appreciated the noble efforts of ATREE, ZOO and TREE TRUST the organizers of the event. Mr. P.S. Subramanian explained the role of trees in creating sustainable environment and promised that his department will take the maximum efforts to make the area

green rich. Mr S. Essakkypandy released an awareness newsletter from ATREE, Bangalore. The dignitaries and all the participants planted variety of saplings. Submitted by: Dr. S. Viswanathan, Email: greenvishu@gmail.com W.E.D. at V.J.B. Udyan-Zoo, Mumbai. WED was celebrated on 5 June 2011 with programmes creating empathy and awareness in public, about protection and conservation of environment by taking oath about

ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXVI, Number 7, July 2011

A Drawing competition for students of Gurukul School of Art was organized with 64 students participating by pictures of rare and important trees of the zoo. Other groups drew animals and a third, heritage structures and all were awarded participation certificates.

The Students (6 Nos.) from St. Xavier's College, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai and the Volunteers (4 Nos.) of the Ecofolks helped the authorities in conducting the activities on that day. Mr. Anil Anjankar, Director, VJB Zoo, Mumbai. Email: vjbudyanzoo@yahoo.co.in

Judges selecting the best drawing at a competition organised by V.J.B. Udyan Zoo, Mumbai during World Environment Day 2011

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A checklist of birds of Department of Atomic Energy Campus, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu K. Jahir Hussain1, T. Ramesh2, K. K.Satpathy3 and M. Selvanayagam4 The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) premises at Kalpakkam (12º 33’ N and 80º 11’ E) comprising of about 2500 acres is situated 60 km south of Chennai. At present, it houses Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam Atomic Reprocessing Plant, Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Project, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre’s Facilities. Apart from a Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor which is under construction, a few more projects are going to be located here in near future.

The campus encompasses vast plain area of the Bay of Bengal, which is found to be a biologically diverse habitat for native flora & fauna and aesthetically blended with introduced vegetation. The main types of vegetation are tropical dry-evergreen (Ramanujam and Kadamban, 2008) and scrub. The first 10 plant families in the order of dominance are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Verbenaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Convolvulaceae and Amaranthaceae respectively (Gajendiran and Ragupathy, 2002). Even though, some preliminary observations on bird life at Kalpakkam and it’s environ were available (Arasu, 1982; Tabish, 1998; Rajaram, 1999; Siddiqui, 2004), there is no scientific information available on avifauna of the campus.

Little grebe

Spot billed pelican at WIP marsh

To fulfill the lacuna, the present study not only focused on preparing the checklist of birds, but also to find out their abundance and migratory status as well as to create awareness among employees of DAE campus and local people for their conservation. In addition, the study aims to provide baseline data for future impact assessment. The systematic surveys were conducted during March 2007 to December 2010. Standard field guides were used for identification of the species (Ali, 2000; Kazmierczak, 2000) and the recent nomenclature was adapted as per Manakadan and Pittie (2001).

Black crowned night heron

During the survey period, a total of 178 species of birds have been recorded (Table-1). Three water bodies viz., WIP marsh, Kunnathur marsh and KKM Lake add ecological diversity to

1,3 Environmental and Safety Division, Radiological Safety & Environmental Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam-603102 (Tamil Nadu) 2,4 Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE), Loyola College, Chennai-600 034.

Email: 1zakir781@yahoo.co.in (corresponding author), 2faunaldiversity@gmail.com, 3 satpathy@igcar.gov.in , 4 drmssel@yahoo.co.in

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Painted stork

Black bittern

the site and thus attract large number of migrant birds (Jahir Hussain et al., 2007; 2008; 2010). Among 178 species 74 were wetlands birds.

Species such as Purple Moorhen, Common Moorhen, Spot-billed Duck, Little Grebe, Indian Pond-Heron, Blackcrowned Night-Heron, Lesser Pied Kingfisher, Small Blue Kingfisher, White Breasted Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Small, Median and Large Egret were found residential. However, bird species such as Darter, Garganey, Northern Shoveller, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Blacktailed Godwit were regular migrants to these water bodies during winter. Most of the birds were vagrants found occasionally on wetlands. Small Beeeater, White-headed Babbler, Black Drongo, Purple Sunbird, Loten’s Sunbird, Greater Coucal, Asian Koel, Common Myna, Indian Treepie, House Crow, Jungle Crow, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Spotted Dove, Red-vented Bulbul and Coppersmith Barbet were common woodland birds in the campus. Rosy Starling, Forest Wagtail, Common Swallow and Brown Shrike were regular winter visitors.

Even though 16 species of predatory birds were recorded, Shikra and Blackshoulder Kite were most important birds of prey. In addition, Spotted Owlet is a predominant hunter of rodents and other small creatures of the campus. A large stick nest of White-bellied Sea Eagle was found on high power line tower, which was used for many seasons in succession.

Booted Eagle, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Oriental Honey-Buzzard and other birds of prey were extralimital and mostly seen flying over. Kentish Plover, Bridled tern, Caspian Tern, Pallas Gull, Syke's Warbler, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Glossy Ibis, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, and Indian Pitta were noteworthy, and observed only once. Even though the diversity is high, the distribution of birds species in the campus is patchy.

Water bodies and scrub jungle are preferred habitats for most of the recorded birds.

Acknowledgement: Authors are thankful to J. Praveen, No. 14/779 (2), Ambadi, Palakkad, India, for help in identification. Authors are grateful to Dr. Baldev Raj, Director, IGCAR for his continuous encouragement and support.

Eurasian spoonbill

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References: Arasu, A (1982). The Cormorants. http://www.tamil.net/people/arasu/ index.html [Accessed "05.01.11"].

Gajendiran, N. and S. Ragupathy (2002). The Macroflora of East Coast at Kalpakkam. Report submitted to Director, IGCAR. Gill, F and D. Donsker (2010). IOC World Bird Names (version 2.4).

Available at http:// www.worldbirdnames.org/ [Accessed "25.03.10"].

Jahir Hussain, K., K.K. Satpathy, M.V.R. Prasad, V.T. Sridharan, T. Ramesh and M. Selvanayagam (2010). Terrestrial Faunal Diversity of Department of Atomic Energy Campus Kalpakkam-Environmentalists Delight, Published by IGCAR, Kalpakkam, 416pp.

Jahir Hussain, K., T. Ramesh, K.K. Satpathy, M. Selvanayagam and M.V.R. Prasad (2008). Species assemblages of Wetland Birds at Three Different Water Bodies of DAE Campus, Kalpakkam. In: proceedings of 11th International conference on wetland system technology in water pollution control. Indore, 1066-1072pp.

Jahir Hussain, K., V. Madhan, M. Selvanayagam, K.K. Satpathy, M.V.R. Prasad and M. Rajan (2007). Diversity of Avian Visitors to Kokilamedu Lake of Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research Campus at Kalpakkam. In: Proceedings of 12th World Lake Conference Tall 2007.

Jaipur, 154pp.

Krys Kazmierczak (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Yale University Press, 356pp.

Manakadan, R. and A. Pittie (2001). Standardised Common and Scientific Names of the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Buceros 6(1): 1-37.

Rajaram, A. (1999). An update on the Edayur Bird Sanctuary, Kalpakkam. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 39(5): 69.

Ramanujam, M.P. and D. Kadamban (2001). Plant biodiversity of two tropical dry evergreen forests in the Pondicherry region of South India and the role of belief systems in their conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 10(7): 1203-1217.

Salim Ali (2002). The Book of Indian Birds. Bombay Natural History SocietyOxford University Press, 326pp.

Siddiqui, A. I. (2004). Kalpakkam Calling. International Journal of Nuclear Power 18(1): 31-35.

Tabish,Q (1998). http:// www.kalpakkam.com [Accessed "14.11.10"].

Lesser Whistling-Duck

Eurasian Wigeon

Northern Shoveler 2 female and a male

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Table 1- Checklist of birds of DAE campus, Kalpakkam S.No.

Family

Scientific name#

Common name#

Abundance

Status

Podicipedidae Pelecanidae

Tachybaptus ruficollis Pelecanus philippensis

Little Grebe Spot-billed Pelican

C FC

RLM RLM

Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocorax niger

Little Cormorant

FC

RLM

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Indian Shag

I

MV

Phalacrocorax carbo

Great Cormorant

FC

RLM

Anhingidae

Anhinga melanogaster

Darter

FC

N

Ardeidae

Egretta garzetta

Little Egret

FC

RTY

Ardea cinerea

Grey Heron

UC

RLM

Ardea purpurea

Purple Heron

UC

RLM

Casmerodius albus

Large Egret

UC

RLM

Mesophoyx intermedia

Median Egret

UC

RLM

Bubulcus ibis

Cattle Egret

C

RLM

Ardeola grayii

Indian Pond-Heron

C

RTY

Butorides striatus

Little Green Heron

R

V

Nycticorax nycticorax

Black-crowned Night-Heron

C

RTY

Ixobrychus sinensis

Yellow Bittern

UC

MV

Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Chestnut Bittern

I

V

Dupetor flavicollis

Black Bittern

R

RLM

Mycteria leucocephala

Painted Stork

FC

RLM

Anastomus oscitans

Asian Openbill-Stork

C

RLM

Plegadis falcinellus

Glossy Ibis

R

V

Threskiornis melanocephalus

Oriental White Ibis

UC

RLM

Platalea leucorodia

Eurasian Spoonbill

R

N

Phoenicopteridae

Phoenicopterus ruber

Greater Flamingo

I

V

Anatidae

Dendrocygna javanica

Lesser Whistling-Duck

UC

MV

Anas penelope

Eurasian Wigeon

UC

WV

Anas poecilorhyncha

Spot-billed Duck

C

RTY

Anas clypeata

Northern Shoveller

UC

WV

Anas acuta

Northern Pintail

UC

WV

Anas querquedula

Garganey

UC

WV

Anas crecca

Common Teal

UC

WV

Pernis ptilorhynchus

Oriental Honey-Buzzard

R

V

Elanus caeruleus

Black-shouldered Kite

UC

RTY

Milvus migrans

Black Kite

C

RTY

Haliastur indus

Brahminy Kite

UC

RLM

Haliaeetus leucogaster

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

R

RLM

Spilornis cheela

Crested Serpent-Eagle

R

V

Accipiter badius

Shikra

FC

RTY

Hieraaetus pennatus

Booted Eagle

R

WV

Buteo buteo

Common Buzzard

I

V

Butastur teesa

White-eyed Buzzard

I

V

Circus macrourus

Pallid Harrier

I

V

Pandionidae

Pandion haliaetus

Osprey

I

V

Falconidae

Falco tinnunculus

Common Kestrel

R

V

Phasianidae

Francolinus pondicerianus

Grey Francolin

C

RTY

Pavo cristatus

Indian Peafowl

R

V

Turnicidae

Turnix suscitator

Common Buttonquail

I

V

Rallidae

Gallirallus striatus

Blue-breasted Rail

R

V

Amaurornis phoenicurus

White-breasted Waterhen

UC

N

Porphyrio porphyrio

Purple Moorhen

C

RTY

Gallinula chloropus

Common Moorhen

FC

RLM

Fulica atra

Common Coot

UC

RLM

Jacanidae

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

UC

N

Rostratulidae

Rostratula benghalensis

Greater Painted-Snipe

I

N

Charadriidae

Pluvialis fulva

Pacific Golden-Plover

R

N

Charadrius dubius

Little Ringed Plover

UC

RLM

Charadrius alexandrinus

Kentish Plover

I

V

Pluvialis squatarola

Grey Plover

I

V

Vanellus malabaricus

Yellow-wattled Lapwing

I

N

Vanellus indicus

Red-wattled Lapwing

C

RTY

Gallinago stenura

Pintail Snipe

R

N

Gallinago gallinago

Common Snipe

I

N

Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae

Accipitridae

Scolopacidae

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White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Eurasian curlew

Pheasant-tailed Jacana - non breeding

Black-winged Stilt

Pacific Golden-Plover

Great Stone-Plover

Black-tailed Godwit

Bridled Tern

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S.No.

Scientific name#

Common name#

Abundance

Status

Limosa limosa Numenius arquata

Black-tailed Godwit Eastern Curlew

R UC

WV WV

Tringa totanus

Common Redshank

R

MV

Tringa stagnatilis

Marsh Sandpiper

R

WV

Tringa nebularia

Common Greenshank

I

WV

Tringa ochropus

Green Sandpiper

I

WV

Tringa glareola

Wood Sandpiper

FC

RLM

Actitis hypoleucos

Common Sandpiper

UC

MV

Calidris minuta

Little Stint

I

N

Recurvirostridae

Himantopus himantopus

Black-winged Stilt

FC

RLM

Burhinidae

Burhinus oedicnemus

Stone Curlew

R

RTY

Esacus recurvirostris

Great Stone-Plover

I

RLM

Glareolidae

Glareola maldivarum

Oriental Pratincole

I

V

Laridae

Larus ichthyaetus

Pallas’s Gull

I

N

Larus brunnicephalus

Brown-headed Gull

UC

N

Larus ridibundus

Black-headed Gull

I

V

Gelochelidon nilotica

Gull-billed Tern

UC

WV

Sterna caspia

Caspian Tern

I

V

Sterna aurantia

River Tern

I

N

Sterna hirundo

Common Tern

R

WV

Sterna anaethetus

Bridled Tern

I

WV

Sterna albifrons

Little Tern

I

V

Chlidonias hybridus

Whiskered Tern

I

V

Columba livia

Blue Rock Pigeon

FC

RTY

Streptopelia orientalis

Oriental Turtle-Dove

R

N

Streptopelia senegalensis

Little Brown Dove

I

V

Streptopelia chinensis

Spotted Dove

FC

RTY

Streptopelia decaocto

Eurasian Collared-Dove

R

N

Psittacula krameri

Rose-ringed Parakeet

C

RTY

Psittacula cyanocephala

Plum-headed Parakeet

I

V

Clamator jacobinus

Pied Crested Cuckoo

UC

RLM

Clamator coromandus

Red-winged Crested Cuckoo

R

V

Hierococcyx varius

Brainfever Bird

I

RLM

Cacomantis passerinus

Indian Plaintive Cuckoo

R

N

Eudynamys scolopacea

Asian Koel

C

RTY

Phaenicophaeus viridirostris

Small Green-billed Malkoha

UC

N

Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii

Sirkeer Malkoha

I

V

Centropus sinensis

Greater Coucal

FC

RTY

Tytonidae

Tyto alba

Barn Owl

I

V

Strigidae

Athene brama

Spotted Owlet

FC

RTY

Ninox scutulata

Brown Hawk-Owl

I

V

Otus bakkamoena

Collared Scops-Owl

I

N

Bubo benghalensis*

Indian Eagle-Owl*

I

V

Caprimulgidae

Caprimulgus indicus

Indian Jungle Nightjar

I

N

Apodidae

Cypsiurus balasiensis

Asian Palm-Swift

FC

RTY

Apus affinis

House Swift

UC

RLM

Tachymarptis melba

Alpine Swift

I

N

Alcedo atthis

Small Blue Kingfisher

FC

RTY

Halcyon smyrnensis

White-breasted Kingfisher

FC

RTY

Ceryle rudis

Lesser Pied Kingfisher

FC

RTY

Merops orientalis

Small Bee-eater

C

RTY

Merops philippinus

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

FC

WV

Coraciidae

Coracias benghalensis

Indian Roller

UC

RLM

Upupidae

Upupa epops

Common Hoopoe

UC

RLM

Capitonidae

Megalaima haemacephala

Coppersmith Barbet

C

RTY

Picidae

Dinopium benghalense

Lesser Golden Backed Woodpecker

UC

RTY

Pittidae

Pitta brachyura

Indian Pitta

I

V

Alaudidae

Mirafra affinis

Jerdon's Bush-Lark

I

V

Alauda gulgula

Eastern Skylark

I

N

Eremopterix grisea

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

I

V

Hirundo rustica

Common Swallow

UC

N

Hirundo daurica

Red-rumped Swallow

UC

RLM

Hirundo fluvicola

Streak-throated Swallow

UC

N

Family

Columbidae

Psittacidae Cuculidae

Alcedinidae

Meropidae

Hirundinidae

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Yellow wagtail best- sub species Melanogrisea Oriental Turtle-Dove

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Forest Wagtail

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Asian Paradise-Flycatcher

Spotted munia

Loten’s Sunbird

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S.No.

Family

Scientific name#

Common name#

Abundance

Status

Motacillidae

Dentronanthus indicus Motacilla maderaspatensis

Forest Wagtail Large Pied Wagtail

UC FC

WV RLM

Motacilla flava

Yellow Wagtail

I

WV

Motacilla cinerea

Grey Wagtail

I

WV

Anthus rufulus

Paddyfield Pipit

FC

RTY

Coracina melanoptera

Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike

R

WV

Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Small Minivet

I

V

Tephrodornis pondicerianus

Common Woodshrike

I

N

Pycnonotus cafer

Red-vented Bulbul

C

RTY

Pycnonotus luteolus

White-browed Bulbul

FC

RTY

Irenidae

Aegithina tiphia

Common Iora

R

N

Laniidae

Lanius vittatus

Bay-backed Shrike

I

V

Lanius cristatus

Brown Shrike

FC

WV

Lanius schach

Rufous-backed Shrike

I

V

Lanius meridionalis

Southern Grey Shrike

I

V

Copsychus saularis

Oriental Magpie-Robin

FC

RLM

Saxicoloides fulicata

Indian Robin

FC

RTY

Saxicola caprata

Pied Bushchat

UC

N

Turdoides affinis

White-headed Babbler

C

RTY

Prinia socialis

Ashy Prinia

UC

RLM

Prinia inornata

Plain Prinia

FC

RTY

Acrocephalus dumetorum

Blyth’s Reed-Warbler

R

WV

Hippolais caligata

Booted Warbler

R

WV

Iduna rama*

Syke's Warbler*

I

V

Phylloscopus trochiloides

Greenish Leaf-Warbler

I

V

Cisticola juncidis

Streaked Fantail Warbler

I

V

Orthotomus sutorius

Common Tailorbird

R

RLM

Muscicapa dauurica

Asian Brown Flycatcher

R

RLM

Muscicapa muttui

Brown-breasted Flycatcher

R

N

Terpsiphone paradisi

Asian Paradise-Flycatcher

R

N

Nectarinia asiatica

Purple Sunbird

UC

RTY

Nectarinia zeylanica

Purple-rumped Sunbird

FC

RLM

Nectarinia lotenia

Loten’s Sunbird

FC

RTY

Lonchura malabarica

White-throated Munia

UC

RLM

Lonchura striata

White-rumped Munia

I

V

Lonchura punctulata

Spotted Munia

FC

RLM

Lonchura malacca

Black-headed Munia

UC

RLM

Passer domesticus

House Sparrows

R

RTY

Petronia xanthocollis

Yellow-throated Sparrow

UC

RLM

Ploceus manyar

Streaked Weaver

FC

RLM

Ploceus philippinus

Baya Weaver

FC

RLM

Sturnus malabaricus

Grey-headed Starling

R

WV

Sturnus pagodarum

Brahminy Starling

FC

RLM

Sturnus roseus

Rosy Starling

UC

WV

Acridotheres tristis

Common Myna

C

RTY

Oriolidae

Oriolus oriolus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

UC

RLM

Dicruridae

Dicrurus macrocercus

Black Drongo

FC

RTY

Dicrurus leucophaeus

Ashy Drongo

I

N

Dicrurus caerulescens

White-bellied Drongo

I

N

Artamidae

Artamus fuscus

Ashy Woodswallow

FC

RTY

Corvidae

Dendrocitta vagabunda

Indian Treepie

FC

RTY

Corvus splendens

House Crow

C

RTY

Corvus macrohynchos

Jungle Crow

C

RTY

Campephagidae

Pycnonotidae

Muscicapidae

Nectariniidae

Estrildidae

Passeridae

Sturnidae

#

As per Manakadan and Pittie * IOC World Bird Names (Gill & Donsker) RTY-Resident throughout the year; RLM-Resident with local movements; WV-Winter visitor; MV- Monsoon visitor; N-Nomadic visitor with no apparent seasonality; V-Vagrant (Only a single or a couple of records); C - Common; FC - Fairly common; UC Uncommon; R - Rare; I – Irregular

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A checklist of birds of Machiya Safari Biological Park of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Chena Ram 1, Goutam Sharma 2 and L.S. Rajpurohit 3 Machiya Safari Biological Park (MSBP) is located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan (altitude about 241m, 26.10N & 73.080E’) at the eastern edge of the Great Indian Desert. An area of 650 ha outside Jodhpur once used for hunting expeditions, is being developed as a safari park by the government of Rajasthan since 2009 for the exhibition of wildlife. The Machiya fortress and a recent memorial built to commemorate freedom fighters are other attractions, besides a vegetation cover that spans the entire area (Fig. 1).

The 35-acre forest reserve in Machiya area, will be developed as a biological park. The park will host around two dozen species of wild animals and will be set up according to the norms of the Central Zoo Authority of India.

The area is hilly, sand stone plateau and has water bodies.

During summer the average temperature is more than 320C and may rise up to 480C (maximum). The minimum temperature recorded during the study period was 30C. The average rainfall is 390mm. This area provides various microhabitats due to the wide range of climatic conditions along with altitudinal variations. Therefore, this area has different vegetation types such as deciduous, dry deciduous, dry grasslands and euphorbia scrub.

The area is dominated by ‘thor’ (Euphorbia caducifolia ) on the hillocks, ‘Angraji banwalia’ (Prosopis juliflora) ‘bordi (Ziziphus mauritiana) on the slopes of the rocky habitats and Khair (Acacia catechu) and ‘Khejree’ (Prosopis cineraria,) on the sandy plains. Various other xerophytes such as Acacia senegal, Calotropis procera, Capparis decidua, and some climbers and grasses are also found.

The study area is habited by a fairly large number of animals ranging from insects to mammals. These macrotaxa and microtaxa were found in two principal habitats viz. terrestrial and aquatic. The majority of vertebrates occupy the terrestrial habitat, while most of the amphibians, some fishes, and several invertebrate groups are found in the aquatic habitat.

The main fauna of this area include Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Indian Wolf (Canis lupus), Jackal (Canis aureus), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Fox (Vulpes bengalensis), Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) and Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus entellus). Cataloguing of avifauna diversity of the study area was done during the eco-behavioural study of langurs. The main aim of this study was to ascertain the nature of birds in various microhabitats of MSBP and the surrounding area of Kailana Lake.

Methods The series of transects that were laid in the study area was used for cataloguing bird diversity. To identify the known individuals a powerful pair of binoculars was used, and photo documented. Besides this, birds were recorded by the point count method in major vegetation types as well as at water bodies and at machiya fort. All identification was based on Ali & Ripley (1983, 1995), Grewal (1995), Grimmett et al. (1999), Kazmierczak (2000), and Woodcock (1980). In this paper only those species are listed, whose identification was confirmed.

Results and Discussion Over 350 bird species of Thar Desert (Rana et al. 1996) the 146 species from 43 different families of birds (Table 1) were observed in this study until November 2009, which is a quantum leap in bird inventory for the Machiya safari park.

The study area consists of eight or nine small water bodies, and a hilly area having trees and herbs. During normal rainfall, all water bodies get filled to their capacity and there is no scarcity of food supplements, which are enough for both resident and migratory avifauna. Due to the lake and MSBP (Protected region), the area has enough natural resources for both the aquatic and terrestrial birds.

Therefore this small area would seem to support a fairly large number of bird species. The presence of large trees, rocks, cliffs and small water bodies provide enough safe roosting sites and are the main reasons for attracting resident as well as migratory birds.

Out of 146 species of birds found in Machiya Safari Biological Park, six species are listed in Threatened Birds of The World (Birdlife International 2000). Out of these, three species Gyps bengalensis, Gyps indicus and C. nigriceps are categorized as critically Endangered and two species Grus antigone, Sarcogyps calvus and Amandava formosa as Vulnerable.

References Ali, S. & S.D. Repley (1983). Handbook of Birds of India and Pakistan. Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press, 236 pp Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1995). A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd Edition (Updated). B.N.H.S. and Oxford University Press, Mumbai, 183pp.

Altmann, J. (1974). Observational study of behaviour: sampling methods. Behaviour 49: 227-267.

Birdlife International (2000). Threatened Birds of the World. Lynx Edition. Birdlife International, Barcelona and Cambridge, U.K., 860pp.

Chhangani, A. (2002). Avifauna of Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Arawali Hills of Rajasthan. Zoos’ Print Journal 17(4): 764-768.

Devarishi, D. & Trigunayat (1989). Checklist of the birds of Mount Abu (Rajasthan). Pavo 27:59-63 Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (1999). Pocket Guide to the Birds of Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 384pp.

Grewal, B. (1995). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent.

Odessey, Hongong, 193pp.

Kazmierzak, K. (2000). A field Guide to the Birds of India, Sri Lanka, Pakisthan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Pica Press, U.K., 352 pp Manakadan, R. & A. Pittie (2001). Standarised common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian subcontinent.

Buceros Envis Newsletter 6(1): 1-37.

Rana, A.V., A.P. Jain & R.S. Tripathi (1996). Avian diversity in the Thar Desert. In: Ghosh, A.K., Q.H. Bakri & I. Prakash (eds.). Faunal diversity in the Indian desert: Gaps in Research. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India, xi + 410 Pp Woodcock, M. (1980). Collins Handguide to the Birds of the Indian Sub-continent. St. James’ Palace, London, 176pp.

Animal Behaviour Unit, Department of Zoology, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342011, India Email: 1 ramchena@ymail.com, 2gautam_234746@yahoo.co.in (corresponding author), 3 drlsrajpurohit@yahoo.in

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Table 1. Checklist of Birds of Machiya Safari Park with status Common Name

Accipitridae Long-billed Vulture Tawny Eagle Egyptian Vulture Black Kite Black-shouldered Kite Long-legged Buzzard Red-headed Vulture White-backed Vulture Pallid Harrier Montagu’s Harrier Western Marsh Harrier Short-toed Snake Eagle Shikra Cinereous Vulture Desert Buzzard Buteo Steppe Eagle

Scientific name

Status

Gyps indicus Aquila rapax Neophron percnopterus Milvus migrans Elanus caeruleus Buteo rufinus Sarcogyps calvus Gyps bengalensis Circus macrourus Circus pygargus Circus aeruginosus Circus gallicus Accipiter badius Aegypius monachus Buteo buteo vulpinus Aquila rapax nipalenesis Aquila pomarina Butastur teesa

UC* C C

Lesser Spotted Eagle White-eyed Buzzard Eagle Alaudidae Black-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix nigriceps Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata Red-winged Bush-lark Mirafra erythroptera Rufos-tailer Finch-lark Ammomanes phoenicurus Common Crested-lark Galerida cristata Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix grisea Alcedinidae White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smymensis Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo althis Lesser pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Apodidae House Swift Apus affinis Anatidae Tufed Pochard Aythya fuligula White-eyed Pochard Arythya nyroca Ardeidae Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Large Egret Casmerodius albus Little Egret Egretta garzetta Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii Burhinidae Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Charadriidae Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus Indian Sandgrouse Pterocelus exustus Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Little Ringed-plover Charadrius dubius Capitonidae Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Cisticolidae Plan Wren-warbler Prinia subflava Streaked Wren-warbler Prinia gracilis Streaked Fantail Warbler Cisticola juncidis

Fig 1. Vegetation cover of the study area

C UC C R* UC* R R C C C UC C UC UC UC UC C R R C C R UC

Common Name

VC C UC

Columbidae Eurasian Collard Dove` Blue Rock Pigeon Red-collared Dove

C

Little Brown Dove

C R

Cuculidae Pied-crested Cuckoo Brainfever Bird Greater Coucal Asian Koel

C C C UC C C R R R C VC R UC

C C C

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Coraciidae European Roller Indian Roller Corvidae Raven House Crow Jungle Crow Dicruridae King Crow Estrildidae Green Munia White-throated Muniya Falconidae Red-headed Falcon Common Kestrel Laggar Falcon Glareolidae Cream coloured Courser

Scientific name

Status

Streptopelia decaocto Coulamba livia Streptopelia tranquebarica Streptopelia senegalensis

VC VC C

Clamator jacobinus Hierococcyx varius Centropus sinesis Eudynamys scolopacea

C C VC R

Coracias garrulus Coracias benghalensis

UC C

Corvus corax Corvus splendens Corvusmacrorhynchos

C VC C

Dicrurus macrocercus

VC

Amandava formosa Lonchura malabarica

R* R

C

Falco chicquera UC Falco tinnunculus C Falco biramicus jugger UC Cursorius cursor

R

22

Common Name

Scientific name

Status

Common Name

Scientific name

Status

Indian Courser

Cursorius coromandelicus Glareola pratincola

R

Indian Peafowl Rock Bush Quail Phoenicopteridae Flamingo

Pavo cristatus Perdicula argoondah

VC UC

UC C UC*

Phoenicopteridae roseus

UC

Anthropoides virgo Grus grus Grus antigone

Phylloscopus collybita

UC

Hirundo Hirundo Hirundo Hirundo

VC C VC C

Collared Pratincole Gruidae Demoiselle Crane Common Crane Sarus Crane Hirundinidae Common Swallow Dusky Crag-Martin Wire-tailed Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Laniidae Great Gray Shirke Bay-backed Shirke Southern Grey Shirke Red-backed Shirke Rufous-backed Shirke Meropidae Blue –cheeked Bee-eater Small Bee-eater Motacillidae Tawny Pipit Yellow Wagtail White Wagtail Muscicapidae Stoliczka’s BushChat Red-tailed Wheater Common Babbler Larger Grey Babbler Rufous-fronted Prinia Common Tailor Bird Common Lesser Whitethroat Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin Blak Redstart Indian Chat Pied Bushchat Variable Wheater (1712a) Variable Wheater (1712b) Variable Wheater (1712c) Desert Wheater Indian Robin Nectariniidae Purple Sunbird Otididae Great Indian Bustard Houbara Bustard Podicipedidae Little Grebe Pelecanidae Great White pelican Pteroclididae Spotted Sandgrouse Imperical Sandgrouse Phasianidae Common Quail Rain Quail Jumgle Bush-Quail Grey Francolin

rustica concolor smithii daurica

R

Lanius exubitor Lanius vittatus Lanius meridionalis Lanius collurio phoenicuroides Laniusschach

VC C C C

Merops persicus Merops orientalis

C C

Antus campestris Motacilla flava Motacilla alba

UC C UC

Saxicola macrorhynchus Oenanthe chrysopygia Turdoides caudatus Turdoides malcolmi Prinia buchanani Orthotomus sutorius Sylvia curruca

UC

Cercotrichas galactotes Phoenicurus ochruros Cercomela fusca Saxicola caprata Oenanthe picata picata Oenanthe picata capistrata Oenanthe picata Oenanthe deserti Saxicoloides fulicata

R

Nectarinia asiatica

VC

Choriotis nigriceps Chlamydotis

R* R

Tachybaptus ruficollis

C

Pelecanus onocrotalus

R

Pterocles senegallus Pterocles orientalis

UC UC

Coturnix coturnix Coturnix coromandelica Perdicula asiatica Francolinus pondicerianus

UC UC

Phylloscopidae Chiffchaff Picidae Eurasian Wryneck Yellow-fronted Pied Lesser Golden-Backed Woodpecker Ploceinae Yellow-throated Sparrow House Sparrow Ploceinae Baya Weaver Black-breasted Weaver Psittacidae Rose-ringed Parakeet Pycnonotidae White-eared bulbul Red-vented bulbul Scolopacidae Temminck’s Stint Wood Sandpiper Strigidae Short-eared Owl Spotted Owlet Eurasian Eagle Owl Sturnidae Rosy Starling Common Starling Bank Myna

C

UC R UC R C R

Brahminy Starling Common Myna Syliinae CommonTailor-bird Timaliinae Common Babbler Large Grey Babbler Bluethroat Black Redstart Collard Bush-chat Pied Stone-chat Hoopoe

R C R R R R C R

Jynx torquilla C Dendrocopos C mahrattensis Dinopium benghalense VC

Petronia xanthocollis Passer domesticus

VC C

Ploceus philippinus Ploceus benghalensis

C R

Psittacula krameri

C

Pycnonotus leucotis Pycnonotus cafer

C VC

Calidris temminckii Actitis hypoiedcos

UC C

Asio flammeus Athene brama Bubo bubo

C UC VC

Sturnus roseus Sturnus vulgaris Acndotheres ginginianus Sturnus pagodarum Acridotheres tristis

C UC C

Orthotomus sutorius

C

Turdoides caudatus Turdoides malcolmi Erithacus svecica Phoenicurus ochruros Sexicola torquata Sexicola caprata Upupa epops

C C UC C C C C

VC VC

Common name after Manakadan & Pittie (2001). Numbers mentioned in parenthesis are serial number given by Ali & Ripley (1995).

Scientific name after Grimmett et. al. (1999) R - Rare; C - Common; VC - Very Common; UC - Uncommon; VR - Very Rare; * - Listed in Threatened Birds of the World (BirdLife International 2000)

VC VC

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Addition of two species of Utricularia L. (Lentibulariaceae) for the state of Maharashtra R.S. Govekar1 and M.M. Sardesai2* The family Lentibulariaceae accounts for 3 genera and 280 species (Fischer et al., 2004). However, genera Utricularia L., and Pinguicula L., popularly termed as, ‘bladderworts’ and ‘butterworts’ respectively are the representatives of the Family Lentibulariaceae in India. These insectivorous genera have attracted an attention due to its attractive flowers and insect capturing bladders. Peter Taylor (1989) did the taxonomic monograph of the genus Utricularia and reported 214 species. The genus is widely distributed mostly in tropics and subtropics and a few are temperate. In India, the genus is represented by about 35 species (Janarthanam and Henry, 1992). Later on three novelties were added by Yadav et al. (2000, 2005) increasing the count to 38 species.

Almeida (2001) reported 15 species and a variety; whereas Londhe (2001) reported 14 species for Maharashtra State. Later on Sardesai and others reported 23 species of Utricularia for the state of Maharashtra (Sardesai et al. 2001, 2002), including three novelties (Yadav, et al. 2000, 2005).

Our field survey of bladderworts of Maharashtra resulted in collection of 2 more species of Utricularia, both terrestrial, one from Gadchiroli district and other from Sindhudurg district. On critical examination they were identified as Utricularia hirta and U. lazulina respectively. Thus present paper reports the two as additions of Utricularia for the State of Maharashtra.

The present paper also reports range extension of these two species viz. U. hirta and U. lazulina for the State of Maharashtra and provides short descriptions, distribution, ecological notes and herbarium specimens collected for each species. The voucher specimens are deposited in Herbarium of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (BAMU).

Utricularia hirta Klein ex Link, Jahrb.

1(3): 55. 1820; Joseph & Ramamurthy in J. Bombay nat. Hist Soc. 58: 701.

1961; Taylor in Kew Bull. Add. Ser. 14: 174. F. 38. 1989; Janarthanam & Henry, Bladderworts of India, 61-65.

1992; Cook, C.D.K. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of India. 240. 1996.

Herbs; rhizoids branched; stolons branched, glandular. Leaves linearobovate, 1 or 2 at the base of

Utricularia hirta Klein ex Link

peduncle and also scattered along stolons, 1-nerved. Traps subglobose; mouth basal. Racemes 1-6 flowered; densely hairy throughout, scales basifixed, 1-nerved; bracts basifixed, 1-nerved; pedicels erect at anthesis and deflexed in fruit. Pedicels erect at anthesis and recurved in fruit. Calyx lobes subequal, hooded. Corolla pink to violet coloured, papillose, hairy; upper lip oblong, constricted at middle; lower lip broadly ovate, yellow in throat, unigibbous at base; spur longer than lower lip, horizontally projected often curved upwards. Capsule globose, dehisce vertically. Seeds subglobose; testa reticulate, elongated.

Fls. & Frts.: Aug. – Dec. Maharashtra state, Gadchiroli District, Kanchanpur, Lagam Lake, R.S. Govekar 435 2nd November 2010, Sardesai 2560 27th November 2010.

Distribution: World: India to Malaysia. India: Bihar, Karnataka,

Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Ecological Note: It grows along ditches and streams along with U. bifida L. and U. minutissima Vahl and Xyris indica L. in sandy and lateritic soil.

Taxonomic Note: It is very similar to U. minutissima, but can be easily identified on the basis of its unique hairiness.

Utricularia lazulina Taylor in Proc.

Indian Acad. Sci. (Plant Sci.) 93B: 101.

1984 & Kew Bull. Add. Ser. 14: 325. F. 89. 1989; Janarthanam & Henry, Bladderworts of India, 67-69. 1992; Cook, C.D.K. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of India. 240-241. 1996.

Herb; rhizoids numerous, branched.

Stolons profusely branched, papillose.

Leaves linear-spathulate, 1 or 2 at the

1 Deputy Conservator of Forests, Allapalli Wildlife Division. E-mail: govekiran@yahoo.com 2 Department of Botany, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Marathwada University, E-mail: sardesaimm@gmail.com *(Author for correspondence)

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Utricularia lazulina Taylor

base of peduncle and also scattered along stolons, 3nerved. Traps subglobose, subdimorphic; sessile on leaves and stalked elsewhere; mouth basal with two simple, subulate, glandular appendages. Racemes erect; scales and bracts basifixed, 1-nerved; peduncles angular, grooved and winged. Pedicels slightly winged, erect at anthesis as well as in fruit. Calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate. Corolla blue to violet, constricted at center; lower lip obovate, hairy in throat, bigibbous at base; spur conical, curved, acute at apex. Capsule ovoid, dorsiventrally compressed, thickened along dehisced margin; seeds subglobose; testa reticulate and verrucose within.

Fls. & Frts.: Aug. - Dec. Maharashtra state, Sindhudurg District, Vaibhavwadi, Sardesai 2522, 20th September 2010.

Distribution: World: Endemic to Western India. India: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra.

Ecological Note: A common species growing in soil cover on lateritic plateaus of Konkan along with grasses. Common associates include Utricularia caerulea, U. malabarica, U. minutissima, U. praeterita, and U. reticulata. Other associates include Trithuria konkanensis and Eriocaulon species. So far this species was known to occur throughout the coastal plains of Konkan, Goa, Kanara and Kerala.

Taxonomic Note: Erect and stout peduncles, blue to violet corolla and the uniformly membranous capsule wall are the unique characters in the species.

References Almeida, M.R. (2001). Lentibulariaceae in Flora of Maharashtra. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, vol. 3B: 301-464.

Fischer, E., W. Barthlott, R. Seine and I. Theisen (2004). Lentibulariaceae, pp.276-282. In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo, Springer. 7.

Janarthanam M.K. and A.N. Henry (1992). Bladderworts of India, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

Londhe, A.N. (2001). Lentibulariaceae, pp.561-568. In: Singh, N.P., P. Lakshminarasimhan, S. Karthikeyan; and P.V. Prasanna. (eds.). Flora of Maharashtra State: Dicotyledones vol.-II (Combretaceae-Ceratophyllaceae) B.S.I., Calcutta.

Sardesai, M.M., S.M. Bhuskute and S.R. Yadav (2001).

Lentibulariaceae in Maharashtra. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 25(3): 687–702.

Sardesai, M.M., S.P. Gaikwad, S.M. Bhuskute and S.R. Yadav (2002). Some new records to the State of Maharashtra. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 99(3): 567–569.

Taylor, P. (1989). The genus Utricularia - a taxonomic monograph. Kew Bull. Add. Ser. 14: 1-724.

Yadav, S.R., M.M. Sardesai and S.P. Gaikwad (2000).

Two new species of Utricularia L. (Lentibulariaceae) from Peninsular India. Rheedea 10(2): 107–112.

Yadav, S. R., M.M. Sardesai and S.P. Gaikwad (2005).

A new species of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) from Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Rheedea 15(1): 71-73.

Acknowledgements: Authors are thankful to Prof. M.K. Janarathanam, Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa for the confirmation of identities and for valuable suggestions in preparation of the manuscript. Senior author is also thankful to Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi (DST) for financial assistance.

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Sighting of the Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus at Uppalapadu Heronry, Andhra Pradesh, India Nanjan Sheeba1 & Lalitha Vijayan2 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus belonging to the family Ciconiidae is a less studied vulnerable species in India (Luthin 1987). Its distribution ranges from India, Sri Lanka, south through Myanmar and Thailand to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia to the Greater Sundas, including Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java and Bali (Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia) and Brunei (Sharma 2006). Species distribution in north east is documented by Baral (2005). In India, it breeds in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Orissa and also in Nepal (Baral & Inskipp 2009; Birdlife International 2010; Poudyal & Nepal 2010; Singha et al. 2002; Taher 1999; King & Brouwer 1991). It is considered as a vagrant species in south India with scattered records of occurrence (Ali & Ripley 1978, Grimmett et al. 1999, Taher 1999, Sreekar et al. 2010). This wetland-dependent bird inhabits the riverbeds, floodplains, paddy fields, swamps, lakes and forest pools (Poudyal 2009).

As part of the study on the Spot-billed Pelican at Uppalapadu bird habitat (16016'N, 800 21' E) located about 7 km East of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, this site was regularly monitored and counts of other species were taken for abundance. On 29th June 2008, at 7:15 AM, the first author spotted one large stork with glossy black plumage and naked reddish yellow head and neck, standing among the Painted Storks (Fig 1). The broad bill and hair-like feathers on head were distinctly noticed and identified as Lesser Adjutant (Fig 2). The prominent frontal plate on head was observed which is unique to adult character (Grimmett et al. 1999). The bird was sighted on two more subsequent days, 30th June and 1st July 2008. When the bird was sighted the pond was almost dry for more than three months (for management activity) to fix artificial nesting iron platforms. Water level was very low about 15 to 30 cm.

This species is usually found in mangrove, mudflats, coastal swamps and marshes, flooded grassland (Hoyo et al. 1992) although it has also been found in shallow puddles and drying ponds where the fishes including mudskippers were abundant (Ali & Ripley 1978). The Lesser Adjutant preferred to maintain about 60 m distance from the dikes.

In the presence of observer or visitors it rushed inside the pond and stayed beside the mounds with Prosopis juliflora beyond the reach of human sight. This additional information on the Lesser Adjutant Stork will help to update its earlier sightings from Andhra Pradesh, namely, ICRISAT campus, Medak district, Pulicat lagoon, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam district and Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Adilabad district (Taher 1999, Sreekar et al.

2010).

References Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1978). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, Divers to Hawks. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 384pp.

Baral, H.S. (2005). Surveys for Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus in and around Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.

Forktail 21:190-193.

Baral, H.S. & C. Inskipp (2009). The Birds of Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Our Nature 7: 56-81.

BirdLife International (2010). Species factsheet: Leptoptilos javanicus. Retrieved from http://www.birdlife.org. on 18/9/2010.

Hoyo, J.D., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (1992). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Ostrich to Ducks. Family: Ciconiidae (Storks). Vol. 1. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, 696pp.

Fig 1. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus standing among Painted Storks

Fig 2. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus in flightnoticeable frontal feathers and black underwing with white axillaries

Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (1999). Pocket guide to the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 384pp.

King, C.E. & K. Brouwer (1991). Conservation and captive management of Indian storks. Zoos' Print Journal 6(1): 1-3.

Luthin, C.S. (1987). Status of and conservation priorities for the world's stork species. Colonial Waterbirds 10(2): 181-20.

Poudyal, L.P. (2009). Population status and habitat preference of Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus in Nepal.

Nagao Natural Environment Foundation Newsletter 18: 30-32.

Poudyal, L.P. & S. Nepal (2010). Population Status of Lesser Adjutant in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Danphe 19(1):1-4.

Sharma, S. (2006). Population status and distribution of Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) in far-western lowland Nepal. Tigerpaper 33(4): 9-11.

Singha, H., A.R. Rahmani, M.C. Coulter & S. Javed (2002).

Nesting ecology of the Greater Adjutant Stork in Assam, India.

Waterbirds 25(2): 214-220.

Sreekar, R., A. Naidu, M. Seetharamaraju & C. Srinivasulu (2010). Lesser Adjutant Stork and Stork-billed Kingfisher, additions to the birds of Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Birds 6(6):163-164.

Taher, S.A. (1999). Spotlight: Lesser Adjutant (Stork) Leptoptilos javanicus. Pitta 101: 6.

Division of Conservation Ecology, SĂĄlim Ali Center for ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore 641108,Tamil Nadu, India.

Email: 1nsheebu@gmail.com; 2vijayanlalitha@gmail.com

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Occurrence of Helminthostachys zeylanica (L.) Hooker in Surai forest range, Uttarakhand Meraj Anwar1 and Ved Prakash Ola2 Genus Helminthostachys belongs to one of the most primitive living family Ophioglossaceae of the class Filicopsida and subclass Ophioglossiadae. H. zeylanica plants are green to purplish in colour, 30-43 cm high with thick, fleshy and creeping rhizome (Panigrahi and Dixit 1969d). Commonly it is known as kamraj or fruiting fern. They are known to occur in Sri Lanka, Malay Peninsula, China, Japan, Philippines, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Australia (Clausen 1938), and Nepal (Chandra et al. 2008). In India, they are reported from western forests of South India upto an elevation of 3000 ft and from Central India (Chandra et al. 2008). In the NorthEast India, records are from Bengal plains to Assam and Cachar and from the forests of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in North. It grows in open grassy swamps on the edges of the Terai forests and along river banks of Bahraich, Nishangara (Panigrahi & Dixit 1969d) Gorakhpur (Dixit & Tripathi 1956; Roy & Kumar 1966), Banbasa near Tanakpur (Fraser-Jenkins 2008a).

An individual of H. zeylanica was recorded while sampling the vegetation in the Surai range of Terai East Forest Division (TEFD) near Khatima, Uttarakhand. Vegetation sampling was carried out under the project entitled Terai arc tiger conservation landscape phase II. Data were collected for shrubs and saplings by laying nested plots of 5m radius at an interval of 250m along transects during April-May, 2007. Vegetation plots were also laid in Kilpura and Khatima ranges of TEFD. Out of 169 plots, H. zeylanica was found in only one plot along with Grewia sapida Roxb. ex DC., Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Merr. and saplings of Syzygium paniculatum Gaertn. Tree species in 10 m radius nested plot at the same location represented by Eucalyptus sp., Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels and S. paniculatum. Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. occurs as dominated species in the Surai range, but there are plantations of Tectona grandis L.f. and Eucalyptus sp. also. H. zeylanica individual was found in blackish muddy soil and bearing clusters of sporangia on stem of fertile, spike like frond at the base of tripartite lamina, which

Figure 1: Helminthostachys zeylanica in Surai forest range, Terai East Forest Division, Uttarakhand. Š Meraj Anwar

Figure 2: Location of Helminthostachys zeylanica in Surai forest range, Terai East Forest Division, Uttarakhand

were used as distinguishing feature for its identification in the field. Leaves were lanceolate with the margins entire or irregularly serrated. A photographic record (Fig. 1) was taken for confirmation of the species in the herbarium at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Its features were found inagreement as described by the Beddome (1866). Figure 2 shows location of the plot where

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Helminthostachys zeylanica was found in Surai range, TEFD. Continued ... P. 28

1,2 Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun-248001, India 1 Present Address: WWF-India, Manral Cottage,Lakhanpur, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India Email: anwar.meraj@gmail.com

27

Velvet fracture in Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) Devaki1, K. Senthilkumar2, S. Sadasivam3 and M.G. Jayathangaraj4 Most deer species have a pair of large and complex hornlike appendages, present only in males as true horns, called antlers. Each antler originates from an attachment point on the skull called a pedicle. In the initial stage, when the antler is growing, it is totally covered by a highly vascular skin structure termed as velvet. This outer cover supplies essential oxygen and nutrients to the antler. The antler becomes devoid of velvet cover, once it is matured / attained proper size. This matured antler without vascular structure is a dead bone structure which usually falls off after every mating season.

Prior to maturation, the velvet is highly vulnerable to injury due to fighting among inmates, leading to surgical management. This becomes common in zoological parks due to confinement of deers within enclosures, unlike freerange. This kind of surgical condition affecting the growing antler in a hog deer is very rarely reported in spite of common occurrence. The present report is about the surgical management of fractured and lacerated velvet in a hog deer (Axis porcinus).

Case History A male hog deer aged about 2 years with body weight of 38 kg showed traumatic injury of the velvet, causing profuse serosanguinous discharge..

Surgical Management The animal was transferred to the sterile area. The site was prepared for aspectic surgery. Cornual nerve block was given using 2 ml of 2% lignocaine hydrochloride. The necrosed area of the velvet was removed by using a hand held hacksaw blade. After removal sterile gauze soaked in povidone iodine was bandaged around the site. The whole operative procedure was completed in 20 minutes.

Inj.Yohimbine hydrochloride @ 1 mg/kg was given intravenously to reverse the anesthetic effect of Xylazine hydrochloride. After 30 minutes of sedation, the animal showed uneventful recovery with no side effects.

Postoperative Management The animal was given injection Streptopenicillin 1 gm daily for 3 days and injection B-Complex with liver extract 1 ml intra muscularly on alternate days using blow pipe. The povidone iodine gauze bandage was removed on the 7th day post surgery. Topical application of hexachloro cyclohexane over the surgical wound was carried out for quick healing.

The wound completely healed in 10 days.

Acknowledgement The authors are thankful to the Chief Conservator of Forests and Director, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai.

Clinical Examination For carrying out a detailed clinical examination the animal was immobilized using Ketamine hydrochloride (5mg/kg) and Xylazine hydrochloride (2 mg/kg). Detailed examination revealed that the left velvet of growing antler had a fracture of about 2 cm from the top and the area was infested with maggots. Maggots were removed manually and turpentine gauze was applied. Blood sample was collected for routine clinical examination.

On close examination it was revealed that the fractured velvet was partially necrosed and hence it was decided to remove the fractured, necrosed part of the velvet.

1

Assistant Professor, LRS, Kattupakkam, 2Assistant Professor, 4Professor and Head, Department of wildlife science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, TN. 3Former Zoo Veterinarian, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur Email: 2drsenthil72@hotmail.com

... Continued from P. 27

Acknowledgement: We are thankful to Director, W.I.I. and Dean, FWS, W.I.I., Dehradun for providing the facilities and Save the Tiger Fund for financial assistance. We are also thankful to Mr. M.M. Babu for herbarium related assistance.

References: Beddome, R.H. (1866). The ferns of British India: t. 95.

Gantz Brothers, Madras. India.

Panigrahi, G. & R.D. Dixit (1969d). Studies in Indian Pteridophytes-IV. The family Ophiglossaceae in India.

Proceedings of National Institute of Science, India, New Delhi, 35B(3): 230-266.

Clausen, R.T. (1938). A monograph of the Ophioglossaceae. Mem. Torrey bot. Club 19(2): 5-177.

Chandra, S., C.R. Fraser-Jenkins, A. Kumari & A. Srivastava (2008). A summary of the status of threatened pteridophytes of India. Taiwania 53(2): 170-209.

Roy, S.K. & H.D. Kumar (1966). Occurrence of Helminthostachys zeylanica Hook. in Gorakhpur. Current Science 28: 375.

Dixit, S.N. & S.M. Tripathi (1956). Occurrence of Helminthostachys zeylanica Hook. in Lakshmipur forest (Gorakhpur). Indian Forester 92(5): 275-277.

Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. (2008a). Taxonomic revision of a hundred and fifty Indian Pteridophytes. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, 150pp.

ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXVI, Number 7, July 2011

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