Scientists find elusive wildlife at DAE Campus in Kalpakkam
Press Trust of India
Sunday, May 25, 2008 (Kalpakkam)
Want to see Toddy cat, Crested porcupine and Indian civet? Just travel to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) campus in Kalpakkam where two nuclear power plants are located and one prototype fast breeder reactor is under construction.
These elusive animals are found in the sprawling 2,500 acre DAE campus, indicating that there is very less human intervention in the area, says Dr K Jahir Hussain, visiting scientist of Environmental and Industrial Safety Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research there.
Scientists of the department carried out a survey as part of a project entitled ''Bio-diversity and Ecological studies in and around Kalpakkam'' and found many varieties of birds, amphibians, butterflies and mammals.
The entire DAE campus was divided into four representative plots comprising different landscapes--undisturbed area with dense vegetation, building area, water bodies with riparian cover and sandy area with meagre vegetation for inventorying of charismatic terrestrial/semi-aquatic fauna viz., mammals, birds, reptiles,amphibians and butterflies, Hussain said.
For birds, early morning surveys were made whereas for mammals evening and night surveys were followed. Mid-day sampling was followed for butterflies and other animals. Each plot was surveyed twice in a week for the period of one year.
''This stratified survey fetched major component of biological diversity available in the campus. The diversity of butterflies is remarkable. Twenty two butterfly species was encountered within the DAE campus. Frogs, toads, lizards and snakes are also diverse. Five species of frogs and one species of toad were recorded,'' Hussain said.
Nine species of lizards were encountered. Calotus versicolor is abundant followed by common skink. Totally eight species of snakes were recorded. Among them common bronzedback, Banded Kukri and Rat snake were predominant.
Seventy species of birds were recorded during the survey period.Black crowned night heron, Common house crow, Great cormorant, Oriental white ibis, Painted stork, Cattle egret, Common mynah are more common.
Sixteen species of mammals were encountered during the survey. Golden jackal, Jungle cat, Toddy cat, Crested porcupine and Indian civet are the major wildlife found.
Totally 132 species of animals were identified during the survey and it has only highlighted the potential magnitude of bio-diversity on the campus.
Story
Sunday, May 25, 2008 (Kalpakkam)
Want to see Toddy cat, Crested porcupine and Indian civet? Just travel to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) campus in Kalpakkam where two nuclear power plants are located and one prototype fast breeder reactor is under construction.
These elusive animals are found in the sprawling 2,500 acre DAE campus, indicating that there is very less human intervention in the area, says Dr K Jahir Hussain, visiting scientist of Environmental and Industrial Safety Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research there.
Scientists of the department carried out a survey as part of a project entitled ''Bio-diversity and Ecological studies in and around Kalpakkam'' and found many varieties of birds, amphibians, butterflies and mammals.
The entire DAE campus was divided into four representative plots comprising different landscapes--undisturbed area with dense vegetation, building area, water bodies with riparian cover and sandy area with meagre vegetation for inventorying of charismatic terrestrial/semi-aquatic fauna viz., mammals, birds, reptiles,amphibians and butterflies, Hussain said.
For birds, early morning surveys were made whereas for mammals evening and night surveys were followed. Mid-day sampling was followed for butterflies and other animals. Each plot was surveyed twice in a week for the period of one year.
''This stratified survey fetched major component of biological diversity available in the campus. The diversity of butterflies is remarkable. Twenty two butterfly species was encountered within the DAE campus. Frogs, toads, lizards and snakes are also diverse. Five species of frogs and one species of toad were recorded,'' Hussain said.
Nine species of lizards were encountered. Calotus versicolor is abundant followed by common skink. Totally eight species of snakes were recorded. Among them common bronzedback, Banded Kukri and Rat snake were predominant.
Seventy species of birds were recorded during the survey period.Black crowned night heron, Common house crow, Great cormorant, Oriental white ibis, Painted stork, Cattle egret, Common mynah are more common.
Sixteen species of mammals were encountered during the survey. Golden jackal, Jungle cat, Toddy cat, Crested porcupine and Indian civet are the major wildlife found.
Totally 132 species of animals were identified during the survey and it has only highlighted the potential magnitude of bio-diversity on the campus.
Story
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