Sikari Lake studies to be listed on Ramsar
More than 22,000 waterfowl have been found in Shuklaphanta National Park and surrounding areas. In the count conducted from January 17 to 22 last year, waterfowl were found in the lakes and rivers inside and outside the park.
According to Hirulal Dagoura, a technician of the Nepal Bird Conservation Association, 146 species of waterfowl have been found inside and outside the park.
18,000 birds have been found in the hunting lake of the park. The number of birds in Sikari Lake has increased slightly compared to last year . Along with poachers within the park, counts were made in Rani, Baba, Bathnia, Kalikich, Salgaudi lake and Chaudhar and Mahakali river areas .
Apart from this, waterfowl were also counted in Bedkot Lake of Bedkot Municipality along with Puraini of Belauri Municipality and Banda Lake of Punarwas. "Outside the protected area, the number of birds in Purani Lake has been good," said Dagaunra, "even though it is far from the park, it is a good habitat for birds." According to him, 962 birds of 47 species have been found in Purani Lake. In Purani last year, the same number of birds were found.
"Shukla's Sikari Lake has been found very attractive for birds," said Purushottam Wagle, conservation officer of the park, "More than 80 percent of the birds found in the protected area and outside have been found in Sikari Lake."
Bird Conservation Association has counted the waterfowl in collaboration with Park Office, National Nature Conservation Fund, Bird Conservation Group Kanchanpur and Nepal Ornithologist Association. 33 technicians were employed in the calculation. Technician Dagaunra says that the number of waterfowl has been decreasing in recent years due to the disturbance of bird habitats and lack of food due to the vegetation of Michaha species in natural lakes . According to him, the structure of the lakes is constantly changing due to extinction of species and erosion. Due to this, the number of birds has started to decrease due to discomfort.
A study has been started to include Sikar Lake in the Ramsar list . The Department of Parks and Wildlife Conservation has formed a study team under the coordination of Ecologist Haribhadra Acharya. The conservation officer of the park, Wagle, said that the team observed the Sikari lake last week. He said that the department has shown priority to list the lake in the Ramsar zone.
