Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 25: A prolonged dry spell has reduced water levels at the Shalbug Wetland in Ganderbal district, raising concerns for the thousands of migratory birds that rely on the site as a winter refuge.
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Officials said that the wetland, one of Kashmir’s key bird habitats and a designated Ramsar site, has been hit by nearly two months without significant precipitation.
Ajaz Ahmad, Block Forest Officer at the Shalbug Wetlands, said around 50,000 migratory birds have arrived so far from Siberia, China, Asia and several European countries, but low water levels are making their stay difficult.
“The major role is of precipitation, and the long dry spell over the last two months has impacted the wetland. It is hindering the arrival of birds and their ability to live here,” he said.
He added that the Sindh River and Khushal Sar lake, both feed the wetland, and both have less water. “Despite that, we still have about 90 percent water available inside the wetland,” he said.
Ahmad said garbage dumped around the wetland poses an additional threat to the ecosystem. The department, he added, is removing encroachments under an ongoing policy initiative, alongside a recent de-siltation drive aimed at improving water flow.
“Shalbug, spread over 16.7 square kilometres (around 1,675 hectares), attracts lakhs of birds each winter,” Ahmad said. “Our team works round the clock to avert the threat of poachers,” he added.
He said the department is monitoring the situation closely but fears that continued dry weather could further reduce bird numbers in the coming weeks.
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