Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100760280600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Mining scares away rare owls

Santosh Patnaik

APMDC conducts study following a report of spotting a carcass of Blewitt’s owl

Endangered: Bauxite mining may prove hazardous to the owl’s existence

VISAKHAPATNAM: Coimbatore-based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History has confirmed that 142 species of birds, including three vulnerable and globally threatened species and two near-threatened species, in Araku valley.

The study was carried out by the AP Mineral Development Corporation at a cost of Rs.11 lakh through JSW Aluminium Limited to pave the way for bauxite mining at Raktakonda, Galikonda and Chittamgondi hills after proposing management of area for owl habitats.

Sources told The Hindu that the project entitled “Study of habitat and development of environment management plan for Blewitt’s owl in Araku Valley’ was commissioned following a report on spotting of a carcass of Blewitt’s owl, known as forest owlet. This, they said, could be the reason for the delay in getting clearances for holding public hearing for mining in Anantagiri and Araku areas though the APMDC had submitted applications much ahead of Anrak Aluminium Limited.

Safety of birds

Incidentally, in its EIA report for Anrak, APMDC casually referred to faunal diversity and stated that nothing was found listed in Schedule-I and if anything were spotted during mining, they would be released into ‘safe habitats’ with the help of forest officials.

The study, conducted by the Salim Ali Centre through remote sensing and GIS, revealed that 11 species of owls and owlets could be encountered mainly from the slopes of the hillocks and valleys in Araku.

It said the Brown Fish Owl and Short Eared Owl were reported in the mid-altitude of the hill.

The large sized owls, though seen in few numbers, preferred higher altitude despite these heights having fewer numbers of large trees. Spotted Owlet, Collared Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl and Oriental Scops Owl preferred lower altitude with large economically important trees such as mango, tamarind and jackfruit.

The Orissa Bird and Bio-cultural Survey had included an ornithological survey of Eastern Ghats in which it rediscovered the Blewitt’s owl near Araku and proposed to designate the entire belt covering Sileru to Lambasingi, Paderu to Araku and Anantagiri as ‘important bird area’ of the country.