Location: km northeast of
Mysore, Mandya district, Karnataka
Area: 67 ha
Altitude: 700 m
Description of site: The wetland is a stretch of
the river Kaveri (Cauvery) flowing through Ranganthittoo Sanctuary. The river
flows relatively swiftly through an area of rocky terrain; there are many
rocks as well as sandy islands, more or less neglected by the local human
population. The larger islands are wooded and these, together with the wooded
river banks, support a large breeding colony of waterbirds
Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate. The
area receives some benefit from both the southwest and northeast monsoons
Principal vegetation: The smaller islands have a
fringe of Pandanus; the larger islands and the river banks support a variety
of shrubs and trees. The islands harbouring the heronries are covered by Samania
semen, Terminalia arjuna, Ponamia glabra, Salix tetrasperma, Combretum oblifolium,
Polygonum barbatum, and Pandanus species
Economic and social values: A very popular area for bird-watching
and other nature-oriented recreation; over 100,000 visitors have been recorded
in one year. The nutrient-rich water flowing from the Sanctuary into surrounding
agricultural land is highly valued by the local farmers, who also refrain
from disturbing the herons, egrets, ibises and storks that forage in inundated
rice fields as the birds keep their fields free from pests and snakes
Fauna: The Sanctuary is a breeding ground for as
many as 14 species of waterbirds, including Phalacrocorax carbo, P. fuscicollis,
P. niger, Anhinga melanogaster, Nycticorax nycticorax, Ardeola grayii, Bubulcus
ibis, Egretta garzetta, E. intermedia, E. albs, Ardea purpurea, Anastomus
oscitans, Threskiornis melanocephalus, and Platalea leucorodia. The large
number of A. oscitans is particularly noteworthy. The majority of birds begin
breeding in June though several birds such as P. fuscicollis, P. niger, A.
purpurea, and P. leucorodia nest between January and April.
Several birds of prey such as Haliastur Indus, Milvus migrans, grans, Circus
aeruginosus, Spilornis cheela, Pandion haliaeetus, and Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
frequent the sanctuary. Birds such as Esacus recurvirostris, Vanellus indicus,
and Sterna aurantia regularly nest on the rocks exposed in midstream. A colony
of cliff swallow (Hirundofluvicola) regularly nest in the sanctuary. During
the summer of 1991, a few pairs of Mycteria leucocephala were observed nesting
in the sanctuary for the first time. A large colony of fruit bats (Pteropus
giganteus) roost on trees fringing the river on the main island. A healthy
population of marshcrocodile (Crocodylus palustris) thrives in the deep pools
between the islets. A family of common otters (Lutra lutra) have been sighted
in the past
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