Surha Tal Wildlife Sanctuary (18440)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Surha Tal Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.7500, Longitude: 84.3333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 42.97984
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Surha Taal Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural rainfed lake, located north of Ballia town near village Rajpur in Ballia district. It has an area of 1,528 ha. Surha Taal is surrounded by agricultural fields. Eichhornia crassipes is the dominant weed, within and along the margins of the lake. An excellent water body serving as host to several migratory and resident bird fauna, this wetland has been listed as a high priority wetland of Level V, that is wetlands with high ecological and socio-economic potential but with poor data availability, in a prioritization of biological conservation sites in Indian wetlands (Samant 2000). Fishing is very common. Local farmers use the lake water for irrigation. Wetland vegetation is used as fodder for the domestic livestock and as domestic fuel.
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: This Sanctuary is famous for its congregation of waterbirds during winter. Anatidae is the most numerous among all the families recorded, followed by Phalacrocoracidae, Jacanidae, and Ardeidae. According to the Forest Department, the number reaches 50,000 waterfowl during the migratory season (winter). Sarus crane Grus antigone is usually seen breeding in this Sanctuary. A complete checklist of birds is not available. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much information is available on other fauna. This wetland is supposed to be very important for its fish resources.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Uncontrolled fishing; Draining of water for irrigation; Weed infestation; Unsustainable exploitation. Like all other such wetlands located in areas of high human population density, Surha Taal is also under tremendous biotic pressures such as fishing, weed removal and drainage for cultivation.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Samant, J. (2000) Prioritisation of Biological Conservation Sites of Indian Wetlands. In: Setting Biodiversity conservation priorities for India, (eds. S. Singh, A. R. K. Shastri, R. Mehta and V. Uppal). WWF-India, Pp. 155-167.