Kashmir is known for its rivers and lakes worldwide, which act as a lifeline for the valley. These rivers as well as tributaries support both human and animal life in the whole of the Kashmir valley. One such river is River Sindh which is a vital lifeline for the people and wildlife of the northwestern region of India. As far as biological diversity is concerned, the river supports a lot of vertebrate and invertebrate species. The river is home to several species of animals and birds, including the Ibis Bill, a unique bird species known for its distinctive beak and habitat in rocky riverbeds. However, as with the other ones, this river is also facing severe anthropogenic pressure which is affecting both river health and its wildlife.Â
The Sindh River flows through the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir. It’s a 108-kilometer-long primary tributary of the Jehlum River and the valley it carves is called the Sindh River. The river begins in the Machoi Glacier, which is located east of the Amarnath shrine and south of the Zojila Pass at an elevation of 4,800 meters. From its source in Kolhoi Glacier, it flows southward past Panjtarni (a camping spot of Amarnath yatra) and then northward into Domail, where it meets a tributary that doubles its volume. On its route to Ganderbal, it crosses the National Highway and flows primarily in a westerly direction. It is nourished near Kichpora Preng by the Wangath River, which originates in Gangabal Lake and continues downstream. The river is an important source of irrigation and drinking water for the local communities, as well as a vital habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna. It supports large paddy fields in the whole of the Ganderbal district which indicates how important this river is.Â
Biodiversity of River Sindh
The river Sindh and its surrounding areas including wetlands are home to a variety of plant and animal species. The riverbed is mostly rocky, with some areas having sandy banks. The diverse types of habitats in and around the Sindh River support a wide range of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, including water lilies, lotus, and reed beds.
Among fish species, the river is home to Brown trout and Schizothorax (Kashir gaad) which are much sought after by fishermen for their delicious meat. People travel from far and wide to fish in the Sindh River. The river Sindh is home to numerous other aquatic organisms besides fish, such as frogs and freshwater mollusks.
The Sindh River and its nearby wetlands are home to a wide range of bird species as well. They are particularly vital for migratory birds, with many bird species coming from China, Siberia, and Russia to spend the winter months in the region. Some common bird species found in the area include the Common sandpiper, white-wagtail, brown dipper, Grey wagtail, and white-throated dipper. Apart from this, the river Sindh is also home to a unique bird species called the Ibis Bill. The bird species gets its name from its bill which resembles the bill of the Ibis bird, hence the name Ibis bill.
Moreover, the surrounding hills and forests are home to a range of mammalian species, including Himalayan black bears, musk deer, and some species of wild cats. The area is also home to several reptile and amphibian species, including the vipers.
Ecological Threats to River Sindh Biodiversity
The biodiversity of the river Sindh is under threat from various anthropogenic activities, including pollution, and unsustainable tourism practices. One of the most significant threats to the river’s ecosystem is the unchecked dredging of sand and gravel from the riverbed for construction and development purposes. Every day, tens of tractors and trucks carry large amounts of gravel from the river bed.Â
Unchecked dredging has destroyed the river’s rocky habitat, which is crucial for the breeding of several aquatic species, including the Ibis Bill. The Ibis bill is a unique bird species that is native to the rocky riverbeds of the region, and its breeding is highly sensitive to any disturbance. The destruction of the rocky riverbeds due to dredging has resulted in decreased breeding success and a decline in the population of the Ibis Bill.
The excessive levels of pollution in the river also pose a serious threat to the variety of life. Numerous urban centers along the river discharge their raw sewage into it, leading to high concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria and other pollutants. The population of many fish and other aquatic organisms has dropped due to pollution.
The river’s environment is in jeopardy due in large part to the effects of unchecked tourism and recreation. The riverside vegetation may be destroyed, aquatic species may be disturbed, and invasive species may be introduced as a result of these actions.Â
The dredging leads to uneven gravel distribution all along the Sindh River. Some parts of the Sindh river are quite deeper while others are shallower. This is already causing a lot of problems including loss of human life. Many people, mostly young children, lose their lives every year while taking a bath in river Sindh. This is mainly because of the deep trenches that are formed within the river bed. Moreover, the uneven depth leads to an imbalance of the river banks as there is no physical support for the banks. This can lead to small-scale landslides or loosening of the river banks.Â
Ibis Bill: The resident of River Sindh
The Ibis Bill is a unique bird species that lives in the rocky riverbeds of the northwestern region of India. In addition to these regions, Central Asia and parts of Russia also host populations of this species. This family consists of only one species, the Ibisbill, a rare wader found solely in the flat, rocky rivers of Asia. Some other bird families resembling Ibis Bill include oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) and avocets and stilts (Recurvirostridae) because of some behavioural and physical characteristics.
The bird is easier to identify because there are no other bird species resembling the Ibis bill found in the same area. The sides of the neck, mantle, upper back, and breast of an adult in breeding plumage are bluish-grey. A thin white line and a wider black ring can be seen on the breasts. Brownish-grey can be seen on the lower back, most of the wing coverts, scapulars, and tertials, and the tertials have blackish tips. A white wing bar is seen when in flight. The tail end is a dull greyish brown with some faint blackish banding. The tail is a similar shade of grey-brown, and the outer webs of the rectrices are barbed with black.
The rest of its underside is white, save for the underwing coverts, which are a pale greyish brown, and the flying feathers, which are patterned black and white.
The crimson bill is long and curled downward. It has bright red eyes. You have pinkish-red legs and feet. There are three toes on each foot; they are the outside, middle, and inner toes. The middle toe lacks a web connecting it to the outer toes. Â
So, the bird is easily recognizable by its distinctive long, curved bill, which it uses to probe the riverbed for invertebrates. The Ibis Bill is a resident breeder in the region, and it breeds between March and June each year.
Unchecked Mining and Its Impact on Ibis Bill Breeding
The unchecked dredging of river Sindh has had a significant impact on the breeding of the Ibis Bill. The Ibis bill breeds in rocky riverbeds, and the eggs are laid directly on the rocky surface. The eggs are vulnerable to predation and disturbance, and the parent birds are highly sensitive to any disturbance during the breeding season.Â
A study published in the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society in 2022 concluded that Ibis Bill is facing a lot of human disturbances in River Sindh which is its primary breeding habitat in Kashmir. Among many disturbances faced by the bird, the study concludes that sand and boulder mining contribute most to the disturbance to this beautiful bird species (38 percent in the study). Similarly, another article published by Mongabay concludes that dredging in the river Sindh is one of the most serious problems faced by the Ibis bill.Â
The dredging of river Sindh has destroyed the rocky riverbeds, which are essential breeding grounds for the Ibis Bill. The dredging has also led to increased water flow, which can wash away the eggs and destroy the nests. In addition, the dredging has disturbed the parent birds during the breeding season, leading to decreased breeding success and a decline in the population of the Ibis Bill. The bird requires shallow waters to feed on invertebrates in the water. With dredging, the water becomes deeper, making it tougher for Ibis Bill to reach the bottom of the river for feeding.Â
Recommendations
To mitigate the impact of unchecked dredging on the breeding of the Ibis bill, a lot needs to be done. Govt. should take serious steps in controlling the boulder, and sand dredging all along the river Sindh. Is not possible, they can at least limit the dredging of river Sindh during the breeding season of the Ibis bill. This would minimize the disturbance to the breeding birds and allow them to breed without interference. The dredging could be scheduled to take place outside the breeding season, ensuring that the breeding grounds of the Ibis bill are not disturbed.
Another recommendation is to establish protected areas for the Ibis Bill in the river Sindh. These protected areas could be designated breeding grounds for the Ibis Bill, and any dredging or mining activities could be prohibited in these areas. As of now, there are no particular areas designated for Ibis bill breeding, meaning that there is technically no place where this beautiful bird species can feel safe, at least at the time of breeding. So, there is a strong need to frame rules and regulations dealing with limiting or stopping dredging in River Sindh. This would provide a safe breeding ground for the Ibis bill and ensure that the population can thrive.
Another recommendation is to increase awareness about the ecological importance of the Ibis bill and the impact of unchecked dredging on its breeding. This could involve workshops, public education campaigns, and training sessions for local communities, government officials, and other stakeholders. The awareness programs could also include the importance of responsible mining practices and the need to balance economic development with environmental protection.
Finally, there is a need for increased monitoring and study of how dredging affects Ibis bill reproduction. To do this, researchers might study the ecological effects of dredging on the wildlife in the Sindh River and conduct frequent surveys to track the effectiveness of Ibis bill reproduction. Some studies have been conducted recently, but there is always room for more.
ReferencesÂ
https://ebird.org/species/ibisbi1?siteLanguage=en_IN
Leave a Reply
You must belogged in to post a comment.