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Site description (2004 baseline):

Rangawa reservoir is located about 15 km from the airport of Khajuraho, a World Heritage Site. It is a vast reservoir of c. 500 ha. The wetland is surrounded by hillocks, villages and agricultural fields. The boundary of the Panna Tiger Reserve (an IBA) is located just a few hundred metres from the reservoir. The reservoir is easily accessible, being close to the national highway and village roads. The vegetation around the reservoir comprises mostly thick Teak forest Tectona grandis, which covers almost the entire terrain towards the southeast of the reservoir. Apart from this, Palash or Dhak Butea monosperma, makes up the rest of the vegetative cover. Other hillocks around the reservoir bear small shrubs. The main bund of the Dam is about 2 km long, and gives way to a canal which is used for irrigation. The Rangawa reservoir has long shallow stretches towards its northern and western peripheries, close to the Panna-Khajuraho road. This area supports most of the migratory birds during winter. As fishing and other conspicuous human activities are conducted towards the deeper zones, the birds get a relatively disturbance free refuge in the shallow areas.

AVIFAUNA: The precise number of species present in and around the lake is unknown. Reports suggest that the reservoir hosts more than 20,000 birds during peak winter season. Therefore, it satisfies A4iii criterion. The reservoir is mainly used for irrigation and fishing. An old, partially submerged castle towards the southeast is used by Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger and other birds for roosting. Many forest birds that are seen in Panna Tiger Reserve can be seen here, although no proper survey has ever been conducted.

MAIN THREATS: Soil erosion at the reservoir banks; Poaching; Encroachment and intensive land use.

The villages in the catchment area of Rangawa reservoir are primarily dependent on agriculture. Use of toxic pesticides is prevalent, and the farmers do not know the proper quantity of pesticides that they must use. As a result, large quantities of pesticides flow into the reservoir, the cumulative toxic effect needs to be studied.

Key contributor: Koustubh Sharma.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rangawa Reservoir (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rangawa-reservoir-iba-india on 13/01/2025.