The State government has notified Ankasamudra tank located in Hagari Bommanahalli taluk of Ballari district as a bird conservation reserve. Thanks to the relentless efforts put in by many naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts, including Samad Kottur and S.K. Arun, honorary district Wildlife Warden, this will be the first bird conservation reserve declared in the entire Hyderabad-Karnataka region and fourth conservation reserve in the district that has two sloth bear sanctuaries (Daroji and Gudekote) and an otter sanctuary along the Tungabhadra river. These conservation reserves and sanctuaries would be an added attraction for tourists visiting Hampi.
The State Wild Life Board, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has given its approval for declaring Ankasamudra as a bird conservation reserve after it began gaining popularity as a natural bird sanctuary when about 140 species of birds, both local and migratory — rosy starlings, painted storks, open billed storks, northern shovelors, northern pintails, sand pipers, cormorants, parakeets, egrets, ibis, herons among others — chose it as not only their roosting place but also as a breeding spot.
Ankasamudra tank, about two decades ago, was dry and was being encroached upon. To prevent this, the Forest Department planted acacia nilotica (kari jali ). Over the years, the place, with thorny trees, became a safe spot for local and rare and migratory birds . A couple of years ago, the tank filled up owing to heavy rain and through a special scheme it has remained continuously filled. As a result, the tank and the thorny trees emerged as a nesting place too.
Mr. Samad, along with Mr. Arun and Vijay Itagi, after observing the developments, voluntarily initiated many steps to protect the birds and area with the financial assistance extended by Society for Wildlife and Nature (SWAN), an NGO, and corporates, for appointing a watcher and creating awareness among the public to extend their cooperation in this regard besides mounting pressure on the government to declare the area as a conservation reserve.
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Takat Singh Ranawat, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ballari division.
“To start with, priority would be accorded for protection of the area, measuring about 233 acres, mapping it and fix corner stones, ensure supply of water, erecting a view point at a vantage point for the benefit of bird watchers to see the birds with the help of binoculars and take photographs”.
