Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: The lake was known to be an important staging and wintering ground for migratory birds. Eighty-eight species, including many forest species, have been identified in and around the lake (Baba, undated). The Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus that was common here (Loke 1946) has now disappeared and was not reported by Baba (undated). The surrounding forests still have populations of Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha and Himalayan or Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus. Although there has been a drastic decline in the number of waterfowl due to increased disturbance, even now thousands of ducks and geese visit the lake. The main ones are: Greylag Goose Anser anser, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Teal Anas crecca, Northern Pintail A. acuta, Eurasian Wigeon A. penelope, Mallard A. platyrhynchos, Garganey A. querquedula, Gadwall A. strepera, Northern Shoveller A. clypeata, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, White-eyed or Ferruginous Pochard A. nyroca, Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina and Pygmy Goose or Cotton Teal Netta coromandelianus. White Stork Ciconia ciconia is a passage migrant. Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus is very common. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, and White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus are resident species. This site easily qualifies for A4iii criteria as it holds more than 20,000 waterfowl on a regular basis and also it is one of the important migratory stopover sites for many long-distance migrants. Nearly a hundred years ago, Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus was also reported (Ward 1906-1908). Probably, it still occurs in small numbers among the thousands of Greylag Geese. Another species reported earlier and likely to occur even now is the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris. There is a specimen in the British Museum (Natural History) of this species shot here in 1923 (BirdLife International 2001). As this species occurs among the multitudes of other waterfowl, it is likely to be easily missed, and might be still found in Wular. Wular is also one of the few IBA sites where the Near Threatened Lesser Grey-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis is reported (Baba, undated). This species was earlier called Himalayan Greyheaded Fishing Eagle Ichthyophaga nana (Ali and Ripley 1987). It is considered Near Threatened by BirdLife International (2001) as it has declined all over its range, especially in India due to destruction of riverine wetlands, increasing human disturbance and use of pesticides.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Common Otter Lutra lutra is reported to be present. Wular lake supports a huge fishing industry. Six species of endemic Schizothoracid fish have been reported (Baba, undated). They are being replaced by the introduced Cyprinus carpio.
The lake has shrunk to a quarter of its original size due to siltation from surface runoff and the denuded catchment area. It is also contaminated with domestic and industrial waste. The Wular lake has been designated as a wetland of international importance, especially as a waterfowl habitat, for the following reasons: (i) It diminishes the fury of floods, being a natural storage reservoir of flood waters, and regulates the water regime of the Kashmir Valley; (ii) The lake along with its interconnected satellite wetlands, is a suitable wintering ground for a number of waterfowl; (iii) It supports a large fishery, contributing about 60% of the fish yield of Kashmir; (iv) The lake sustains about 15,000 families living around it, providing fish, Singhara (Trapa sp.), Lotus (Nelumbo sp.) stem and other economically important products. The Wular Lake has great social, economic and cultural values for the people of the Kashmir Valley. But this puts tremendous pressure on the natural ecosystem, more so with increase in human population and pollution. Around 8,000 fishermen are dependent on this lake. Vast areas of the catchment zone have been encroached upon by people for cultivation. Willow has been planted to supply wood for cricket bats and wickerwork industry. Siltation resulting from deforestation in the catchment area is another problem. The Directorate of Soil Conservation is working to reduce siltation. Untreated sewage is discharged into the lake, resulting in eutrophication. On top of these problems, the Wular is heavily infested with Salvinia and Potamogeton. These weeds clog the waterways and channels and increase siltation rates. Although fishing is under the control of the Fisheries Department, they either have no actual control, or do not want to control the misuse of fine mesh nets. All these problems show that if we have to save Wular Lake and sustain the harvesting of its rich resources, and also attract waterfowl, an integrated approach among various government departments is necessary. Flash floods are a major problem, created mainly due to deforestation. People living around Wular have realized the importance of flood control by good vegetation cover. People of Garoora village have regenerated 100 acres of forest patch on the bank of the lake after they repeatedly suffered flash floods. After the forest was regenerated, the fury of floods has abated. This example needs replication all around the Lake.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wular Lake and associated marshes (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wular-lake-and-associated-marshes-iba-india on 23/12/2024.