Dr. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama here will soon have an added attraction for tourists. One can see endangered fresh water fish species both in mini open water tanks and aquariums.
The Nisargadhama’s breeding and conservation of endangered fresh water species project would take off within a month, according to its Executive Director S. A. Prabhakar Sharma.
The project comprised collecting threatened and endangered fresh water fish species of the Western Ghats from their natural habitat like rivers, streams, tanks and paddy fields, developing their progeny in the hatchery units at the park, and releasing developed eggs of the species in their natural habitat, he said.
There would be stock pools of all the threatened species. Matured fish would be selected from the stock and bred in separate hatchery units. Mr. Sharma clarified that the project did not include raising and displaying ornamental fish.
He said that selected threatened and endangered fish species of the Western Ghats would be displayed in aquariums. It was also to create an awareness among the public to save those species.
The park has 12 open tanks or hatchery units. The aquarium building has 18 large display units (glass tanks). In addition, the building has 32 medium glass tanks and six mini glass tanks for breeding and laboratory purposes.
The aquarium building and hatchery units are located abutting the vast Pilikula lake. Tourists who visit the garden and the lake would have to walk more than 500 m to reach the project spot.
College of Fisheries and Fisheries Department have identified the threatened and endangered species. They have proposed conservation of 50 species. Vernacular names of the some of the species were Kudian, Moogu malli, Patte menu, Saslu, Gende, Hole Korava, Madanji, Meese girlu, Kijan, Karse and Konti Khavli.
