Delhi: Wildlife (Fauna)
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Animal species in Delhi, including urban areas
See graphic:
Wildlife, fauna in Delhi, some facts
Biodiversity parks in Delhi
The Times of India
See graphic and also
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (Delhi/ Haryana)
Delhi: Yamuna Biodiversity Park
Frogs
Frog species has no eyes because of pollution
The high pollution in Delhi is proving a threat to the capital’s smallest known vertebrate. The new generation of Microhyla ornata — a small yellowish brown frog — is showing physical deformities at birth such as the absence of eyes. These were established by research conducted by the environment science department of Delhi University’s Sri Venkateswara College.
According to Robin Suyesh, professor of environmental science in the college, the research aimed at studying the behaviour of these amphibians in the Central Ridge area, which is the species’ natural habitat in Delhi. “In the course of our research, however, we found many individuals with missing eyes,” said Suyesh.
The researchers determined that the frogs were suffering from “anophthalmia”, or the absence of the left eye. “Scientific studies across the world have shown pollution, parasitic infection and ultraviolet radiation as the probable reasons for the developmental abnormality among amphibians,” Suyesh pointed out. “Delhi, which happens to be one of the most polluted cities in the world, has seen the quality of habitat constantly degrading due to anthropogenic activities, which might be affecting its biodiversity.”
The population of this species has gone down over the years due to loss of habitat. “Since they are small in size and are seen in the open for only a few months in a year, not many know that this amphibian even exists,” the professor said.
Suyesh revealed that amphibians are currently the most threatened group of vertebrates with more than one-third of the total known species facing extinction. “The amphibians are particularly sensitive to environmental changes and are hence considered to be barometers of environmental change because they are the first to react to any changes around them,” Suyesh said.
Earlier research conducted in the Western Ghats has shown a high number of frogs with deformities. “This alarmed scientists and environmentalists who found that such physical changes were caused by toxicity in the frog’s environment and food chain.” While the frog’s Ridge habitat is “relatively less polluted”, there is nevertheless a need to reduce pollution levels in Delhi to stop it from facing extinction.
Leopards
2018 April, Narela
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Leopard sighting has Narela abuzz, April 11, 2018: The Times of India
From: Jasjeev Gandhiok, Leopard sighting has Narela abuzz, April 11, 2018: The Times of India
Movement Near Air Force Station Recorded On Cam; No Pugmarks Found Yet
Narela had an unexpected guest on Monday evening. A leopard was spotted near the Air Force station—the second time in the capital after a leopard family of three was spotted at Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary last year.
Forest officials said the current sighting was even recorded on camera by people at the station, who then called up NGO Wildlife SOS. A special team was sent on Tuesday morning to the area even as the forest department also sent a team there. The latter were setting up a cage to capture the big cat.
“The sighting was confirmed by us before we sent a team. A team of Wildlife SOS will also patrol the area for the next few days to check if any pug marks can be found. Locals are also being alerted about the sighting,” said a senior forest official, adding that they would soon set up a cage in the area.
The forest department said it has also written to the Air Force station to send a copy of the video clip.
Officials said no pug marks have been found yet. “It is a large area and we will continue patrolling for the next few days. We are trying to look for pug marks that could indicate where the animal may be residing,” said the official.
But experts said it’s hard to determine how long the leopard may have been there, with sufficient food and water available. “The station area is quite secure and secluded, which is ideal for the animal, and it also has the Ghoga forest nearby. Leopards are very adaptable and generalist species, meaning they can fend for themselves easily and don’t need a specific prey base to survive. The area needs regular monitoring and setting up of mud traps to capture pug marks,” said Faiyaz Khudsar, scientist incharge at Yamuna Biodiversity Park, adding that the animal may have come to Delhi along the Yamuna corridor.
The park officials had spotted a leopard in December 2016, which was eventually caged and sent to the Shivaliks.
Snakes
Vipers
Viper wanders into colony, rescued Dec 20 2016 : The Times of India
A viper snake was rescued after it had wandered into a residential colony in Rohini.Identified as Russell's viper, the snake was discovered by a group of children who alerted animal rescue NGO Wildlife SOS for help.
A team of two trained rescue officials were sent to the spot, and after identifying the snake, cleared the area immediately.
“The team handled the reptile with caution as the fangs of a Russell's viper are the largest among Indian snakes and they react violently on being picked up. Therefo re, extreme caution had to be taken to carry out the rescue,“ said a rescue official.
The snake species is one among the four venomous snakes found in the Indian subcontinent and protected under schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Monsoons and snakes
Jasjeev Gandhiok, August 8, 2017: The Times of India
With monsoon hitting the capital this month, the chances of coming across a snake in your locality have also increased manifold, say wildlife experts. The snakes generally tend to come out due to excessive water filling up their burrows, while some species come out perilously close to human habitats, often in search of food.
In June alone, Delhi-based NGO Wildlife SOS received over 100 distress calls pertaining to snakes in the capital, while they receive about 300350 such calls annually . One rescue involved a seven-footlong Indian rock python from the Air Force station in Tughlakabad, with the snake spotted outside the mess building by Air Force officials.
The NGO says that sightings almost triple during this period, with snakes found either coiled up under rocks, hiding in drains and often in tall grasses where they end up in search of food.
“We are glad that people have become so aware that they consider calling experts instead of trying to deal with the matter themselves, or worse, resorting to killing the snakes. Our team has professionals who are trained to handle such situations efficiently. The rain brings these snakes out and with vermin like rats and mice available near human settlements, they often end up in urban spaces in hunt of food,“ said Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS.
Delhi has nearly 36 species of different snakes, however, only four venomous snakes are found in the capital -spectacle cobra, common krait, saw scaled viper and russell's viper. The NGO says snakes often try to find dry areas during this season and there have been instances where they have been found in ATM machines too. On July 10, a rat snake was rescued from a house at Talkatora, while the NGO rescued a five-foot long cobra from an office in Vasant Kunj after it was spotted in the office mess by a staff member.
“They often go in search of food and shelter in this weather and therefore can venture inside buildings,“ said Satyanarayan.
Experts say the season also marks a breeding period for certain snake species, making them come closer to human habitats. “Reptiles are coldblooded and hence undergo hibernation. During the summer and especially in monsoons, they come out to hide or feed. A lot of species are also known to breed during this season,“ said Dr Surya Prakash, zoologist from Jawaharlal Nehru University .
See also
Delhi: Wildlife (Fauna)
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (Delhi/ Haryana)
