Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
{{short description|Bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of Karnataka, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| map = India Karnataka
| map_caption = Location in Map of Karnataka
| photo = Spot-billed Pelican Rising Flight Ranganathittu Feb24 D72 26266.jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_caption = Spot-billed pelican taking off
| location = Mandya, Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|12|24|N|76|39|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area_acre = 40
| established = 1940
| visitation_num = 304,000
| visitation_year = 2016–17
| governing_body = Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India
| embedded = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
| designation1_date = 15 February 2022
| designation1_number = 2473{{Cite web|title=Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary|website=Ramsar Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2473|access-date=7 August 2022}}}}
}}
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka),{{cite news|title=From Here and There|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/114903/from-here-amp-there.html|access-date=23 November 2010|newspaper=Deccan Herald}} is a bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state,{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/08/stories/2011010854020700.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016084418/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/08/stories/2011010854020700.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-10-16 |title=Karnataka News : Rs. 1 crore sanctioned for developing Bonal Bird Sanctuary near Surpur |date=2011-01-08 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2012-12-05}} {{convert|40|acre}} in area, and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river.{{cite web |url=http://mysore.nic.in/tourism_ranganatittu_bird_sanctuary.htm |title=Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary}} The sanctuary has been designated on 15 February 2022 as a protected Ramsar site since 2022.
Ranganathittu is located {{cvt|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the historic town of Srirangapattana and {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Mysore. The sanctuary attracted about 3 lakh visitors during 2016–17.{{cite web|last1=Shivakumar|first1=M. K.|title=Ranganathittu draws over 24 lakh tourists since 2008-09|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/ranganathittu-draws-over-24-lakh-tourists-since-2008-09/article18196352.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=26 April 2017|date=24 April 2017}}
History
File:Islands Cauvery Ranganathittu Karnataka Feb24 R16 07728.jpg
Ranganathittu's islets were formed when an embankment across the Kaveri river was built between 1645 and 1648 by the then king of Mysore, Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar.{{cite news | title =Heavy rainfall causes flooding in Ranganathittu bird sanctuary | date =25 October 2005 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/stories/2005102512320300.htm | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130411025829/http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/stories/2005102512320300.htm | url-status =dead | archive-date =11 April 2013 | newspaper =The Hindu |access-date=19 February 2013}} These islets, originally numbering 25, soon started attracting birds. The ornithologist Salim Ali observed that the islets formed an important nesting ground for a large variety of birds, and persuaded the king of Mysore to declare the area a protected area in 1940.{{cite news|title=Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/25/stories/2006092500330300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123213910/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/25/stories/2006092500330300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 January 2011|access-date=23 November 2010|location=Chennai, India|newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 September 2006}} The sanctuary is currently maintained by the Forest Department of Karnataka and efforts are ongoing to improve the sanctuary, including purchasing nearby private land to expand the protected area.{{cite news | last =Shiva Kumar | first =M T | title =Creating more space for the birds | newspaper =The Hindu | date =9 June 2012 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-districtplus/article3506721.ece?css=print|access-date=19 February 2013}} In 2014, around 28 square km around the sanctuary was declared as an eco-sensitive zone, meaning that certain commercial activities cannot take place without the government's permission.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/ranganathittu-bird-sanctuary-braces-for-the-monsoon/article28805970.ece|title=Ranganathittu bird sanctuary braces for the monsoon|last=Arasu|first=Sibi|date=2019-08-03|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-08-15|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}
Flooding
The sanctuary with its islets experience heavy flooding during certain rainy seasons when water is released from Krishna Raja Sagara dam upstream, due to heavy rains. During heavy flooding boating is suspended and tourists are allowed to watch the nesting birds from a distance. Frequent flooding has also damaged some portions of three islands over past few decades.{{cite news | last =R | first =Krishna Kumar | title = Ranganathittu gets a new look| date =4 May 2009 | url =http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/04/stories/2009050451410300.htm | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130426121051/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/04/stories/2009050451410300.htm | url-status =dead | archive-date =26 April 2013 | newspaper =The Hindu |access-date=19 February 2013}}
Biome
Most of the park is within a riparian area.
Flora
File:Woods Info Ranganathittu Karnataka Jan24 A7C 09124.jpg
Riverine reed beds cover the banks of the islands, while the islands themselves are covered in broadleaf forests, with dominant species being Terminalia arjuna (Arjun tree), bamboo groves, and Pandanus trees. Eucalyptus and acacia trees have also been planted, which might lead to long-term eradication of native species. The endemic and threatened lily Iphigenia mysorensis of the family Colchicaceae also grows in the sanctuary.
Fauna
= Birds =
File:Spot-billed Pelicans Nest Adults Chicks Ranganathittu Jan24 A7C 09189.jpg
Roughly 170 bird species{{Cite web|url=http://www.mysorenature.org/around-mysore/mandya-sector/ranganathittu-bird-sanctuary/bird-checklist|title=Bird Checklist – Mysore Nature|website=www.mysorenature.org|access-date=2018-01-05}} have been recorded. Of these, the painted stork, Asian openbill stork, common spoonbill, woolly-necked stork, black-headed ibis, lesser whistling duck, Indian shag, stork-billed kingfisher, egret, cormorant, Oriental darter, spot-billed pelican and heron breed at Ranganathittu regularly. The great stone plover, and river tern also nest there, while the park is also home to a large flock of streak-throated swallows. Ranganathittu is a popular nesting site and about 8,000 nestlings were sighted during June 2011.{{cite news | last =DHNS | title =8,000 nestlings sighted at Ranganathittu | newspaper =Deccan Herald | date =10 June 2011 | url =http://www.deccanherald.com/content/167949/8000-nestlings-sighted-ranganathittu.html |access-date=19 February 2013}} About 50 pelicans have made Ranganathittu their permanent home.
During winter months, starting from mid-December, as many as 40,000 birds congregate at Ranganathittu, some migrating from Siberia, Latin America and parts of north India.{{cite news | last =M.T. | first =Shiva Kumar | title =Ranganathittu comes alive with winged beauties | newspaper =The Hindu | date =28 January 2013 | url =http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/ranganathittu-comes-alive-with-winged-beauties/article4352532.ece |access-date=19 February 2013}}
During January and February, more than 30 species of migratory birds can be found in the sanctuary.{{cite news | title =Ranganathittu reports record revenue | newspaper =The Hindu | date =9 January 2012 | url =http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/ranganathittu-reports-record-revenue/article2786551.ece?css=print |access-date=19 February 2013}}
= Mammals and reptiles =
The islands are host to numerous small mammals including bonnet macaque, smooth coated otter, colonies of flying fox and common small mammals such as common palm civet and Indian gray mongoose. Additionally, there is a population of monitor lizards. The mugger crocodile or marsh crocodile is a common inhabitant of the riverine reed beds and Ranganathittu has largest fresh water crocodile population in Karnataka state.{{cite news | last =TNN | title =Sanctuary crocs fear extinction | newspaper =The Times of India mobile edition | url =http://mobilepaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=7§id=edid=&edlabel=TOIBG&mydateHid=10-08-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Bangalore&edname=&articleid=Ar00701&publabel=TOI | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130412001255/http://mobilepaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=7§id=edid=&edlabel=TOIBG&mydateHid=10-08-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Bangalore&edname=&articleid=Ar00701&publabel=TOI | url-status =dead | archive-date =12 April 2013 |access-date=19 February 2013}}
Activities
File:Boats Pelicans Islands Kaveri Ranganathittu Jan24 A7C 09122.jpg
Ranger-guided boat tours of the isles are available throughout the day, and are a good way to watch birds, crocodiles, otters, and bats. There is no lodging within the sanctuary, so visitors typically stay over at Mysuru or Srirangapatna. The seasons for visiting the park are June–November (during the nesting season of the water birds). The best time to watch migratory birds is usually December but it can vary year to year.
The Salim Ali Interpretation Centre, maintained by Forest Department, screens a 4- minute documentary to special interest groups.
Accessibility
- Nearest Town: Srirangapatna (3 km)
- Nearest City: Mysuru (19 km)
- Nearest Railhead: Srirangapatna
- Nearest Airport: Mysore Airport (25 km)
- Nearest Highway: Bangalore – Mysuru highway (2 km)
Gallery
File:Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary (6099939566).jpg|Road entrance to the sanctuary
File:Ceryle rudis -Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka, India -pair-8-2c.jpg|Pied kingfishers
File:Indian Grey Hornbill imported from iNaturalist photo 315053512 on 6 April 2024.jpg|Indian Grey Hornbill feeding on fig.
File:Open billed Stork at the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.jpg|Open-billed storks
File:Painted Stork pair at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.jpg|Meal partners, painted storks aiding each other
File:Painted Stork imported from iNaturalist photo 283676771 on 6 April 2024.jpg|Painted Stork taking flight
File:Painted Stork imported from iNaturalist photo 253260110 on 6 April 2024.jpg|Painted stork searching for food
File:Egret pair at Ranganathittu Bird Sancutary.jpg|Snowy egret pair
File:Stony Plover pair at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.jpg|Pair of great stone-curlews
File:White Ibis flock at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.jpg|Troop of white ibises
File:Crocodile Gaping.jpg|Crocodile basking
File:Migrated Bird.jpg|Cattle egret in breeding plumage
File:River Tern Mating.jpg|River Terns mating
File:River Tern Chick.JPG|River Tern chick
File:Pelican Ranganathittu.jpg|Spot-billed pelican taking flight
File:Spot-billed pelican, at Ranganathittu..jpg|Spot-billed pelican in flight
File:Eurasian Spoonbill imported from iNaturalist photo 350848202 on 6 April 2024.jpg|Eurasian Spoonbill
File:Indian Paradise-Flycatcher imported from iNaturalist photo 253263609 on 6 April 2024.jpg|Indian Paradise-Flycatcher
File:Indian Flying-fox imported from iNaturalist photo 208981300 on 6 April 2024.jpg|Flying foxes
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120617095221/http://www.mysorenature.org/mandya-sector/ranganathittu-bird-sanctuary Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary- A Report]
{{Bird Sanctuaries}}
{{Protected areas of Karnataka}} {{Ramsar sites in India}}
Category:Bird sanctuaries of Karnataka
Category:South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests
Category:Villages in Mandya district
Category:Protected areas established in 1940