Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: Hokarsar is an important wetland for both resident and migratory waterfowl. Hussain (1989) counted 64 species in and around the wetlands during bird ringing studies. The lake is particularly important as a wintering area for migratory ducks and geese, and as a breeding area for herons, egrets and rails. Up to 25,000 wintering ducks have been recorded at one time; the common species being Greylag Goose Anser anser (10,000), Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (100), Common Teal Anas crecca (10,000), Northern Pintail A. acuta (15,000), Eurasian Wigeon A. penelope (7,000), Mallard A. platyrhynchos (15,000), Garganey A. querquedula (3,000), Gadwall A. strepera (5,000), Northern Shoveller A. clypeata (5,000), Common Pochard Aythya ferina (10,000), White-eyed or Ferruginous Pochard A. nyroca (1,000) and Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina (2,000). Many of these species are found in much greater numbers than the 1% of biogeographic population threshold determined by Wetlands International (2002). Breeding species include the Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus and Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus. A small number of Common Crane Grus grus is also seen in some years. Among the globally threatened species, Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus is resident (Scott 1989). The Department of Wildlife Protection of the Jammu and Kashmir Government conducts annual waterfowl surveys (Bacha 2002). According to this survey report, on January 12, 2002, more than 3,70,000 birds were counted. There has been considerable increase in the waterfowl numbers since shooting was stopped.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: The Common Otter Lutra lutra is common in the lake, and other mammals known to occur in the Reserve include the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes and Jackal Canis aureus. The lake supports rich fish fauna including Cyprinus carpio, Crossocheilus sp., Barbus conchonius and Gambusia affinis.
Silt deposition has reduced the depth and surface area of the water, especially during summer months, thus the edges are either exposed to encroachment for paddy cultivation or willow plantations by the locals. It is felt that the lake has shrunk to one third of its former size. Various proposals have been made for the management of the lake, including the cutting of weeds, dredging, raising of bunds, diversion of the Doodhganga spill channel to reduce siltation, and erection of a perimeter fence. Fishing and harvesting of reeds also disturbs the birds. Cutting of reeds is particularly destructive to breeding birds, but some control of reeds is also required. In recent years, cultivation of mushrooms has started along the northern boundary. The main threats are increased siltation, eutrophication and the encroachment of agricultural land into the marshes peripheral to the lake. Fertilizer run-off from the nearby agricultural land into the lake accelerates the rate of eutrophication. The lake receives a heavy load of silt from the Doodhganga catchment area, and the expanses of open water are decreasing in size as the lake silts up and the reed-beds expand. Encroachment is also becoming a major threat to the site. Charaching by influential people still occurs, especially with the connivance of police and high government officials. For example, in March 1998, 20 influential poachers went on a killing spree for almost 15 days. The forest guards who resisted were shunted out. However, due to media vigilance and pressure on the Department of Wildlife Protection following the incident, this may not happen again.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hokarsar (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hokarsar-iba-india on 26/12/2024.