Predatory Fish Removal Underway at Vedanthangal Lake to Protect Birds
4 Aug 2026 1:37 PM IST4 Aug 2026 1:37 PM IST
Forest department clears invasive catfish and tank cleaner fish to restore food sources ahead of the migratory bird season.
The forest department is removing invasive predatory fish from Vedanthangal Lake to protect native fish populations and ensure adequate prey for migratory birds.
The forest department has taken up the removal of cat fish and tank cleaner fish in Vedanthangal lake which are eating all the fingerlings scattered in the lake. Such fish, which dries up food for the birds visiting the sanctuary, is an existential crisis for Vedanthangal itself since birds will not come to the lake if there is no prey for them and their young ones.
Since the lake is dry, the cleaning process for the forest department can be completed in a few weeks before the onset of the North-east monsoon which brings rains for the district. The lake was not desilted for the last 10 years and the dangerous species which clean up fingerlings have increased in number.
The Vedanthangal lake spans 86 acres with a depth of 16 feet. The workers scatter fingerlings on the lake as prey for the birds. Most of the birds come to the lake to lay eggs and they need prey to feed the young ones. At present, the depth of the lake was only 12 feet after the rains and the water had dried up this summer.
The forest department carried out a thorough examination of the lakes and found that the number of cat fish and tank cleaning fish which eat all the fingerlings and larva have gone up. They are dangerous since they will eat all other fish in the lake also and they will be the only species left in the lake.
The officials decided to remove the dangerous species to protect other kinds of fish which are taken as prey by the birds. The work was taken up a few days ago and is continuing. The workers are cleaning the centre of the lake besides the canals bringing water to it. So far many tonnes of the dangerous species have been removed and the process will be completed in a few days.
Once they are removed, other fish, fingerlings and larva will be protected and they will flourish in the waterbody. The birds which permanently live in the lake will obtain prey for themselves and their young ones. When the migratory season begins in October, the water body will be ready to receive the visitors with plenty of food and water.
The Vedanthangal lake spans 86 acres with a depth of 16 feet. The workers scatter fingerlings on the lake as prey for the birds. Most of the birds come to the lake to lay eggs and they need prey to feed the young ones. At present, the depth of the lake was only 12 feet after the rains and the water had dried up this summer.
The forest department carried out a thorough examination of the lakes and found that the number of cat fish and tank cleaning fish which eat all the fingerlings and larva have gone up. They are dangerous since they will eat all other fish in the lake also and they will be the only species left in the lake.
The officials decided to remove the dangerous species to protect other kinds of fish which are taken as prey by the birds. The work was taken up a few days ago and is continuing. The workers are cleaning the centre of the lake besides the canals bringing water to it. So far many tonnes of the dangerous species have been removed and the process will be completed in a few days.
Once they are removed, other fish, fingerlings and larva will be protected and they will flourish in the waterbody. The birds which permanently live in the lake will obtain prey for themselves and their young ones. When the migratory season begins in October, the water body will be ready to receive the visitors with plenty of food and water.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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