INDIAN SKIMMER AT SATKOSIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

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Context

At Satkosia wildlife sanctuary, breeding of Indian Skimmers has been recorded for the first time.

Details

The sanctuary managers recently found that breeding of the Skimmer species, one of the three found across the globe, has taken place at Baladamara sandbar in the 22-km Satkosia gorge stretch of Mahanadi river.
The Indian Skimmers usually arrive at Satkosia in November and leave by March second week.
The Indian Skimmer is native to India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam. Their last breeding in the Mahanadi river stretch was recorded years back in Munduli area.
Since there are anthropogenic activities in other areas, the Skimmers are in search of new breeding grounds. Satkosia gorge is free from any kind of biotic interference which is why nesting took place here this year.

About Indian Skimmer

FACTS

Scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis

Common Names: Indian skimmer, Indian scissors bill

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order : Charadriiformes

Family: Laridae

Genus: Rynchops

Species: albicollis

Conservation Status:

IUCN: Endangered

CITES: Not listed

IW(P)A: Not listed

Distribution

More widespread in winter, the Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.
It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.

Characteristics, Habitat and Behaviour

Major Threats

Habitat degradation: Exploitation and degradation of rivers and lakes through fishing, transportation, domestic use, irrigation schemes and pollution from agricultural and industrial chemicals are largely responsible for the decline of this species as these factors have reduced reproductive and foraging success.
Excessive and widespread increases in disturbance:
- The damming of the Chambal River, in upstream Rajasthan, has adversely affected its population at National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, due to the dropping water levels allowing predators and livestock access to breeding islands.
- Predation by corvids like House crows (Corvus splendens), presence of stray and domestic dogs, have been known to decimate breeding colonies.

About the Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve located in the border of Angul and Nayagarh district of Odisha, India covering an area of 988.30 km².

History

Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1976, with an area of 796 km².
Satkosia Tiger Reserve was designated in 2007, and comprises the Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjacent Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Terrain

It is located where the Mahanadi River passes through a 22 km long gorge in the Eastern Ghats mountains.

Flora

The major plant communities are mixed deciduous forests including Sal (Shorea robusta), and riverine forest.

Fauna

Mammals found include the leopard, indian wild dog or the (dhole), wild boars , striped hyena, sloth bear, leopard cat and the jungle cat.
The major herbivores include the Asian elephant which is found in large numbers and can often be seen crossing rivers.
The reptiles here include the Mugger Crocodile and gharials
This place also has many fishes like the cat fish which can have a weight of about 30 kilograms.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority, which had approved the transfer of six tigers from the wild of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha National Park to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha, has suspended the tiger translocation project pending a detailed review.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements with reference to Indian Skimmer is/are incorrect?

a. Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of eastern India only.

b. The Indian Skimmer is native to India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Correct Answer: 1