Bird survey under way at BRT Tiger Reserve.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
More than 230 bird species were sighted during the ‘Hakki Habba 2025’ (Bird festival) and bird survey conducted at BRT Tiger Reserve from February 24 to 26, according to a release.
The festival and the survey was conducted at Punjanuru, K. Gudi, Byluru, and Kollegal ranges of the tiger reserve and 100 birders from across India took part in it, according to B.S. Sripathi, Director, BRT Tiger Reserve.
He said the 230-plus species in BRT Tiger Reserve accounts for almost 50 per cent of the bird species found in entire Karnataka.
The ‘Hakki Habba’ is not only an attempt to survey the birds and maintain a database but also to promote conservation among the new generation. Such festivals are also conducted in other tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries by the State Forest Department.
While BRT is known as a tiger reserve, the presence of more than 230 species of birds is an indicator of the rich flora and fauna supported by the forests.
An NTCA report on BRT released a few years ago indicated the presence of nearly 215 bird species belonging to 44 families, of which 12 are endemic to the region.
Yellow throated bulbul, Nilgiri wood pigeon, and Peregrine falcon were some of the birds identified by NTCA while it recorded 22 reptiles and 11 amphibians as well.
This was in addition to 26 mammals, including tigers, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, leopard, wildlife dog, lesser cat and civet cat etc.
Incidentally, BRT was in the news recently when Prime Minister Narendra Modi — in the 119th edition of Mann Ki Baat broadcast on February 23 — referred to the increase in the tiger population at the BRT Reserve.
He appreciated the role played by the Soliga tribals in tiger conservation and pointed out that human-animal conflict was almost negligible as the Soligas revered and worshipped tigers.
Published – February 27, 2025 08:46 pm IST