Kulik (Raiganj) Bird Sanctuary (18459)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Kulik (Raiganj) Bird Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.9667, Longitude: 87.8805
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 35 00
Area of KBA (km2): 12.27909
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Kulik (Raiganj) Sanctuary is an artificial plantation of Dry Deciduous Forest, around a U-shaped canal. During monsoon the canal gets connected with the Kulik river which marks the eastern and southern boundary of the Sanctuary. National Highway 34 passes through the Sanctuary, dividing it into two halves. The U-shaped canal has created a small island-like area in the middle of the Sanctuary, which is the main breeding ground for birds. This area is a preferred habitat for heronry species (Jha and Sengupta 1999). Around this artificial waterbody, the Forest Department has planted Anthocephalus cadamba, Lagerstroemia reginae, Dalbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus sp. and Barringtonia sp. (S. Jha, in litt. 2002).
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: The Sanctuary, although an artificially planted forest, holds perhaps the largest nesting colony of Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans (Jha and Sengupta 1999) in India. More than 11,000 nests were recorded in 1999. According to Wetlands International (2002), the total breeding population of this species is >1,25,000, and the 1% threshold is 1,250. Thus about 10% of the breeding population is found in this Sanctuary. The population of Asian Openbill has increased dramatically. For example, Shahi (1983) has seen 3,956 nests in 1981, and he estimated a population of about 15,800 storks (parents and two chicks in each nests). He also counted 1,030 nests of Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax, and estimated a population of about 4,000 Night Herons. His estimates of other species are 3,000 egrets and 2,700 Little Cormorants Phalacrocorax niger. Around 127 species of birds have been recorded from the area (S. Jha, in litt. 2002). Kulik is one of the most important heronries in India (Subramanya 1996). OTHER KEY FAUNA: The fauna does not include any species of much significance except for some Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Roofed Turtle Kachuga dhongoka, and Yellow Monitor Lizard Varanus flavescens.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Poaching of birds; Aquaculture/Fisheries; Disturbance to birds; Tourists; Firewood collection. Tree felling by villagers as well as by the Forest Department, egg collection for commercial purpose, chick collection for the table, disturbance by insensitive tourists, noise from picnickers in the nearby Kulik river are some of the conservation problems in this Sanctuary. After these issues were raised by a local NGO called Green Peoples, the authorities stopped tree felling in the Sanctuary area, and also banned picnickers. However, egg and chick collection continues despite the ban. Unregulated fishing is another problem.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | 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 | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Jha, S. and Sengupta, S. (1999) Proposed IBA Sites of Malda and Uttar Dinajpur report. Green Peoples India, Malda. Pp. 8. Shahi, S. P. (1983) A little known Bird Sanctuary. Hornbill 1983 (2): 30-32. Subramanya, S. (1996) Distribution, Status and Conservation of Indian Heronries. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 93 (3): 459-486. Wetlands International (2002) Waterbirds Population Estimates: Third Edition. Wetlands International Global Series No. 12. Wageningen, The Netherlands.