Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary (18027)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.1667, Longitude: 78.2000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 450 00
Area of KBA (km2): 130.48726
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD’
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 120 km from Hyderabad by road. It is a mixed dry deciduous forest with patches of scrub and grassy banks. The terrain is undulating, with low hills and small waterbodies. Adjacent to the Sanctuary is the Pocharam Reservoir on River Manjira, about 70 km downstream from Manjira Wildlife Santuary (an IBA). The lake area has extensive marshy fringes and abundant aquatic vegetation typical of the region. The islands were originally wooded, but have recently been cleared. The surrounding area is mainly agricultural lands with scattered Acacia spp.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: More than 70 bird species are reported to be present in Pocharam (Forest Department records.) The lake is known to support a variety of both resident and migratory waterfowl. Large numbers of shorebirds are also present. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The mammalian fauna in this site includes Leopard Panthera pardus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Chital Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Hyena Hyaena hyaena and Golden Jackal Canis aureus.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Unsustainable Forestry; Agricultural activities. The reservoir was declared a Sanctuary to afford protection to the Marsh crocodile Crocodylus palustris.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |