Ghogiphore Garuda raising baby in Batuli Pond [Photos]

Batulipokhari is located in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-13. Tourists are surprised to see bird nests in the lake in the forest area south of the capital. Tuesday ward no. The office of 13 has discussed about lake protection and bird awakening at that place. A team of veterinarians had reached there for monitoring. A team of bird experts counted the nests of the hornbills and checked their condition.

'There are 394 nests in which the children are growing up . Otharo was found sitting in 15 nests . One of the nests was empty," said Hathan Chaudhary, president of the Nepal Ornithologists' Association involved in the monitoring.

This bird usually has up to four babies in its nest. But he said that up to five babies were seen in one nest. This bird is a Raithane of the Terai region .

'From Mechi to Mahakali is found in the Terai area . It has been seen in the geography from sea level to 700 meters height," said Hathan. Its main food is Ghogi and Gangta . They also eat fish, frogs and small snakes. It spends a lot of time in the fields . However, he says that due to the increase in the use of pesticides in the fields, the danger of this bird has increased. It starts nesting from the month of June .

It lays eggs in July and begins to lay eggs . The child can be raised by September . Hathan says that sometimes the baby doesn't fly until the beginning of October. Dry trees in such ponds are suitable for them to nest. Because this place is safe. Enemies such as hatchlings that eat eggs cannot get there from the water . Therefore, it looks for a tree where there is such water and makes a nest," Hathan said.

Batulipokhri intermediate community forest within the Barandabhar forest. They have been protecting since 2057. The water collected in a pond inside the same forest is taken away by the residents of Ganganagar, another village of Bharatpur-13, to plant paddy during the dry season. After the construction of a high dam on the southern bank of the same ghol in 2063, the shape and size of the lake began to expand. Krishnahari Prasain, president of Batulipokhari Intermediate Community Forest, said that now the lake has spread to less than 20 bighas.

He said that the Ghogiphore has started nesting in the past three to four years. The number of nests is increasing every year. But there are many weeds in the lake too. Watermelon is definitely on top. There is a crowd of people even to see this water lily. But we are afraid that this water lily will bring crisis. We had to be advised by experts on how to keep the lake alive and make it a better habitat for birds,' he said.

Prakash Dawadi, Ward President of Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality-13 said that Batulipokhari is becoming a good tourist destination of the metropolis. The attraction of birds is increasing here. Visiting birds are also present during the winter . It is necessary to protect this aspect while developing tourism. The use of pesticides in agriculture has added to the danger of birds. By taking care of all these things, we are going to save the pond and the birds," said Dawadi.

Apil Ghimire, president of the Rapti River Coastal Area Sanitation Campaign, says that Batuli Pond is an important boundary. The importance of wetlands is great. Birds and other animals have started to appear in abundance in Batulipokhari . But the protection of Batuli pond is becoming challenging. It is necessary to make the community aware from the management of garbage to eliminating the problem of pesticides in agriculture," Ghimire said.