A city with an enviable green cover, Visakhapatnam and its neighbourhood is home to a vast spectrum of flora and fauna. Ahead of World Biodiversity Day, MetroPlus speaks to some of the eco-warriors who are trying to make a difference.
Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society
Founded in 2014 by wildlife biologist Murthy Kantimahanti, the Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society (EGWS) is an NGO that works towards conservation of lesser known species of the Eastern Ghats, a region that had long been neglected and far less explored than its western counterpart. A member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Corridor Connectivity Specialist Group, Kantimahanti’s work involves the assessment of potential threats to endangered and threatened species such as the Indian pangolin, Rusty spotted cat, King cobra and the Smooth-coated otter.
“To begin with, we define the threat and then address it. Mere education and awareness alone cannot bring about a change. Human behaviour remains the key driver to biodiversity loss,” he says. The society has 20 volunteers and two field assistants who work along with Kantimahanti at the grassroots level for conducting programmes that bring about a behavioural change towards environmental issues.
“We believe that a change can be more effective when addressed at the school level,” he says. EGWS has been conducting targeted awareness campaigns in schools, mostly in the rural belt around the Visakhapatnam-Srikakulam regions. His field studies brought to light many alarming facts from the wild.
For instance, a recent report highlighted the indiscriminate killing of the King cobra — listed vulnerable under IUCN Red List of threatened species — in the northern parts of the Eastern Ghats. “About 15-20 King cobras are killed every year and many similar incidences go unreported. What people fail to understand is that by killing them, they are indirectly contributing to the increase of other venomous snake species in the region,” explains Kantimahanti.
The NGO also conducts surveys to assess the extent of human-wildlife interaction. Some of its other works in the Guntur region have thrown light on the alarming poaching rate of Smooth-coated otters in the riverine habitat of Krishna. The otters are hunted for their fur and often in retaliation by the fishermen.
“We are trying to assess the gravity of the threat to these species that are listed as vulnerable in the IUCN list,” says Kantimahanti. He is currently working with the AP Forest Department to create interpretation centres replete with attractive, visual elements in Telineelapuram Bird Sanctuary and Srikakulam.
Vizag Birdwatchers Society
This group of birders have been keeping an eye on the feathered residents and migratory bird species in the city. With more than 150 active members in the group, the society has documented many rare and important species of birds in and around Visakhapatnam. Among their latest findings are the first record of Red-necked falcon ( Falco chiquera chiquera ), a “near threatened” species in the IUCN avifauna checklist, and more recently, a first clear photographic record of Peregrine falcon raptor, a native of North America and a winter visitor to South Asia. One of its recent initiatives was the digital documentation of bird species in eBird India platform. “We are creating a traceability index of the bird species to understand their distribution and address conservation issues. The eBird platform has statistical analytical tools that help to get a clear picture,” says Sourav Majumdar, a member of the society and a scientist in the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory.
According to the birders, this year there has been a drastic fall in the count of migratory birds visiting many of the wetlands of the region. “In Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, there were hardly any water birds spotted this year,” says Majumdar. Incidents of bird poaching in and around the region were reported this year. “Not just Indian tourists, many foreign travellers come to the city and reach out to us for birdwatching activities. Conserving our precious biodiversity is the only way towards creating a sustainable tourism model,” he says. The society is planning to bring out a publication showcasing its works soon.
Biodiversity Park
When it comes to discovering the world of plants, this thriving green zone in the heart of the city is full of surprises. With over 2,000 species of rare and important plant species, the Biodiversity Park at Rani Chandramani Devi Hospital has been drawing hordes of students and researchers from all over the country who are amazed to discover many secrets from the fascinating world of flora, flourishing amidst an urban jungle. This is the only park of its kind in the State run by the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority in association with the Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS). Apart from housing some unique species like Ginkgo biloba — living fossil that dates back to the age of the dinosaurs, the Biodiversity Park incidentally has all the botanical oddities seen in Kolkata’s famous botanical garden like the Mickey Mouse flower, Mad tree and the Holy Cross tree. “Last year, we saw a record number of visits to the park. Researchers from Europe, apart from cities like Kolkata and from Odisha, came down to study the plant species here,” says S Pavani, member of DNCS. The park is being maintained by a group of college students who are a part of the organisation.
