Location: near Kilapalavoor,
about 60 km from Tiruchi, Tiruchi district, Tamil Nadu
Area: 8630 ha
Altitude: c.150m
Description of site: A large water-storage reservoir
on the plains south of the Kaveri river; one of the largest freshwater lakes
in southern Tamil Nadu. It is one of three interconnected reservoirs and is
fed by the Pullambadi canal, from the Kaveri. It is subject to wide fluctuations
in water level, and occasionally dries out completly during the summer months
Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate, with
most of the rainfall occurring during the northeast monsoon in October and
November
Principal vegetation: The aquatic vegetation includes:
Ipomoea spp., Cyperus sp.,Typha, and Hydrilla. Other vegetation includes Acacia
nilotica, Aadiracta indica, Pongamia sp., and Casuarina sp.
Economic and social values: The water of the tank is used
for irrigation and fishing. The wetland has potential for nature education
Fauna: One of the most important wetlands for migratory
waterfowl in southern Tamil Nadu. Over 5100 waterfowl of 37 species were recorded
during a waterfowl census in January 1987. These included Pelecanus philippensis
(18), Phalacrocorax niger (150) , 630 herons and egrets of seven species,
Anastomus oscitans (32), Threskiornis melanocephalus (28), about 4000 ducks
(mainly cotton teal, common teal, spotbill, pintail, common pochard, garganey,
and shoveler), 60 black-winged stilts (Himantopus himantopus), and 120 wood
sandpiper (Tringaglareola). Very large numbers of ducks were present in late
February 1988, mainly wigeon, spotbill, pintail, garganey, shoveler, and pochard.
Also present were painted storks, and about 25 white storks (Ciconia ciconia)
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