Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: More than 150 species of birds have been recorded, although the actual diversity must be much more (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003). The lake attracts thousands of waterfowl, but due to constant disturbance by fishermen, they do not stay long. If properly managed, Son beel has all the potential to become a Ramsar Site, and could harbour more than 20,000 waterfowl. The Spotbilled Pelican Pelecanus philippensis and Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius have stopped coming, while the Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus is still seen.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much work has been done on mammals, reptiles and amphibians of this important wetland. What we do know is that two species of otters (Lutra lutra and Lutrogale perspicillata) are found. There are unconfirmed reports of Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrina. Hog Deer Axis porcinus is also reported but its number is much reduced due to poaching and disturbance.
The entire area has been silted up and reclaimed to a great extent. Winter paddy is widely grown, and that again has threatened the beel by accelerating reclamation and siltation. Excessive fishing activities disturb the wetland biodiversity.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Son Beel (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/son-beel-iba-india on 23/12/2024.