Decrease in the Biodiversity of the Beel Area 

“Commercial exploitation of the floral species Euryale ferox Salish from the beel led to the reduction in the number of migratory birds which visit the Beel especially during the winter season. This may also result in serious threat to the elephant population in adjacent forests which regularly visit the Beel in search of fodder including the plant Euryale ferox Salish.

The intensive fishing and heavy hunting. Large numbz. This has enhanced the growth of obnoxious weeds in the Beel like species of Polygonaccal which may eventually lead to serious threat to flora and fauna dependent on the lake”.

Declared as a Ramsar site in 2002, the Deepor Beel with a total area of about 900 hectares adjacent to the city, is a nature’s paradise for bird watchers, particularly during winters. The playful migratory birds visiting this wetland as well as resident birds stoke the most creative imagination even in an amateur photographer and help him or her learn the first lessons of wildlife photography. The wetland continues to get these winged visitors in spite of the din and bustle of concrete jungle of the city. However, experts say that threatened eco-system has put a question mark over the beel remaining a hot destination for the migratory birds in future.   

Ratna Bharali Talukdar

To read the full text online subscribe to the magazine

OR

Get the copy of the magazine for details contact at email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.