Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: More than 130 bird species are reported from this IBA site (Sharma 2002). The site qualifies as biome 11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone). Sarus Crane has been observed frequently, possibly coming from other lakes of Udaipur (Satish K. Sharma pers. comm. 2003).
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Other important fauna includes Leopard Panthera pardus, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis, Porcupine Hystrix indica, Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis, Common Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi, Marsh Crocodile Crocodylus palustris, Brahminy Skink Mabuya carinata, Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis, John’s Earth Boa Eryx johnii, Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus, Cobra Naja naja and Russell’s Viper Daboia russelii.
Besides their main role of supplying water to the citizens, the lakes of Udaipur are important for a large number of waterfowl. However, due to scanty rainfall in recent years, especially 1998 onwards, these lakes are facing water shortage. At the same time, disturbance to bird life is increasing due to human activities (recreational boating, pumping of water, pollution by sewage and garbage). As a result, many birds leave these city lakes and turn to Baghdarrah, where increasingly large numbers of water birds (around 8,000) can be seen now. Baghdarrah is a away from the city environs, and the water is also not used for domestic purposes, so the lake provides a fine habitat for winter birds. Recognizing this, the Wildlife Division of Forest Department had taken steps in 2002 to safeguard the site for birds and for the Crocodile. However, all these efforts face difficulty due to the pollution load from the developing phosphate factories in the surrounding environs. These factories release acidic emissions from their stakes, which mix in the air, and affect the air quality. Besides, the water released from the factories is deteriorating the underground water table. If measures are not taken to solve this problem, the future of this IBA site will be in jeopardy.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bagdarrah Closed Area (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bagdarrah-closed-area-iba-india on 23/12/2024.