Mandya: The heavy discharge of water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir has submerged the smaller islands of the Ranganathittu Birds Sanctuary in Srirangapatna. Although some of its bigger islands are safe from flooding for now, boating has been suspended as a precaution. As many as 22 of the sanctuary’s 34 islands, near Palahalli have been submerged, according to Deputy Conservator of Forests, Sidrammappa Chalkapure.
The smaller islands with a 50 metre perimeter and the bigger islands of about a hectare in area are home to a large number of migratory birds that come for nesting to them. But fortunately, they have not been affected as most of migratory ones such as the pelicans have already left, he reveals. “The pelicans arrive at the sanctuary by November-December and leave by June. Even native bird species like the Cormorants, Egrets and Herons have left after the breeding season,” he added.
While the sanctuary is also home to crocodiles, they take shelter on the bigger islands in times of floods. “Although adult crocodiles are experienced enough to survive the floods, the younger ones are vulnerable to the strong current and can be washed away,” the officer said, adding,“We carry out island stabilisation every year , but we will have to wait for the water to recede at Ranganathittu to see if these small islands are intact or damaged.” Around 80,000 cusecs of water was released from the KRS to the sanctuary located downstream of the reservoir on the River Cauvery, flooding its islands.
