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Site description (2004 baseline):

The Kullur Sandai Reservoir is located in Aruppukottai Taluka of Virudunagar district, about 8 km along the Palavanatham road. It is about 80 km southwest of Madurai. The climate of this region is semiarid tropical monsoon type, with high temperature and low humidity. It receives scanty rainfall, with an annual average of just 800 mm. The reservoir receives most of the rainfall during the northeast monsoon from October to December. It also receives inflows from the Khowsika river, which originates in the Western Ghats. The Vallikulam stream also flows into the Reservoir during the monsoon. Kullur Sandai Reservoir has a waterspread of 1,361 ha. The Public Works and the Fisheries Departments protect the dam and undertake measures for storing water and also for fish culture. Apart from the Kullur Sandai Reservoir, there are other irrigation reservoirs in the area (Anaikootam, Vembakottai and Golwarpatti). Pelicans and other birds move between these various waterbodies according to the availability of water. The dam and its environs are rich in aquatic vegetation, with tall and medium Borassus flabellifer trees along the banks. The fringes have been invaded by Ipomoea carnea. The reservoir is fortunately free of water hyacinth.

AVIFAUNA: Kullur Sandai Reservoir qualifies IBA criteria A1, as it holds a significant number of globally threatened Spot-billed Pelicans Pelecanus philippensis. During the Asian Waterfowl Census in January 1987, at least 32 Spot-billed Pelicans were recorded (Johnson et al. 1993). In recent years, the number of Pelicans appears to have increased, as 1,670 were recorded during the pelican survey in September 2002 (Manakadan and Kannan 2003). The 1% biogeographic population threshold of this species is 40 (Wetlands International 2002). This IBA also harbours several other species during winter, such as the Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Common Coot Fulica atra, Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Gadwall Anas strepera, Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha, Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger, Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, and Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber. The total population of waterbirds sometimes exceeds 10,000.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: The Fisheries Department has almost eliminated the native fish community by the introduction of commercial species of carps such as Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cerrhina mrigala, Channa spp.

as well as catfish. The water of the dam is rich in phytoplankton, zooplankton, and submerged vegetation. Because of the rich growth of plankton and heavy stock of fish, pelicans and other waterfowl congregate. This brings them in direct conflict with the Fisheries Department.

MAIN THREATS: Land accreditation; Influx of heavily polluted drainage water; Poaching pressure; Discharge from Cement Industry.

This IBA site is under great pressure from commercial fishery. According to the Fisheries Department, fish-eating birds such as Cormorants and Spot-billed Pelicans inflict heavy loss on the commercial fish culture. Their staff regularly chase away the birds, especially Cormorants. In many places, the bund has been broken due to neglect. It is in urgent need of repair and strengthening, to enable storage of more water. The weed Ipomoea carnea is spreading fast and if left uncontrolled it poses a threat to the ecology of the area. In order to encourage nesting of Pelicans, we suggest that Barringtonia sp. and Acacia nilotica trees should be planted on small artificial islands. These trees would also serve as roosting sites for other birds. One of the biggest problems is that the Virudunagar Municipal Corporation drains polluted water and city sewage into Kullur Sandai Dam. This not only results in eutrophication, but also brings in weeds such as Ipomoea and Water Hyacinth. Steps should be taken to minimise or divert the drainage elsewhere. In addition, appointment of forest personnel is essential to provide adequate protection to the birds.

Key contributor: V. Kannan.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kullur Sandai Reservoir (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kullur-sandai-reservoir-iba-india on 25/11/2024.