Surha Tal Wildlife Sanctuary (India) - BirdLife IBA factsheet

IN136

Surha Tal Wildlife Sanctuary

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Site description (2004 baseline):

Site location and context

Surha Taal Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural rainfed lake, located north of Ballia town near village Rajpur in Ballia district. It has an area of 1,528 ha. Surha Taal is surrounded by agricultural fields. Eichhornia crassipes is the dominant weed, within and along the margins of the lake. An excellent water body serving as host to several migratory and resident bird fauna, this wetland has been listed as a high priority wetland of Level V, that is wetlands with high ecological and socio-economic potential but with poor data availability, in a prioritization of biological conservation sites in Indian wetlands (Samant 2000). Fishing is very common. Local farmers use the lake water for irrigation. Wetland vegetation is used as fodder for the domestic livestock and as domestic fuel.

Key biodiversity

AVIFAUNA: This Sanctuary is famous for its congregation of waterbirds during winter. Anatidae is the most numerous among all the families recorded, followed by Phalacrocoracidae, Jacanidae, and Ardeidae. According to the Forest Department, the number reaches 50,000 waterfowl during the migratory season (winter). Sarus crane Grus antigone is usually seen breeding in this Sanctuary. A complete checklist of birds is not available.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much information is available on other fauna. This wetland is supposed to be very important for its fish resources.

Pressure/threats to key biodiversity

MAIN THREATS: Uncontrolled fishing; Draining of water for irrigation; Weed infestation; Unsustainable exploitation.

Like all other such wetlands located in areas of high human population density, Surha Taal is also under tremendous biotic pressures such as fishing, weed removal and drainage for cultivation.

Acknowledgements

Key contributors: K. S. Gopi Sundar and V. P. Singh.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Surha Tal Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/surha-tal-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 22/11/2024.