By Abinash Chaudhary
Dhangadi, July 2: The counting of the cotton-pygmy goose (called Harihans in Nepali) found in Ghodaghodi Wetland of Kailali has started from Wednesday under the leadership of the Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN).
The wetland is listed in the World Ramsar Area. The cotton pygmy gooses are considered an indicator species of the Ghodaghodi Lake area, and are critically important for the maintenance of the Lake’s biodiversity.
In the Lake area, gooses have been counted and monitored in both winter and summer seasons every year since 2009. The census conducted in the last decade has shown an increase in their number in both seasons.
Between 2009 and 2020, the number went up. Some 155 cotton pygmy gooses were recorded in 2009; 188 in 2010; 243 in 2011; 290 in 2012; 300 in 2013; 289 in 2014; 357 in 2015; 329 in 2016; 360 in 2017; 374 in 2018; 392 in 2019 and 368 in 2020 in the Lake in the winter season.
In summer, however, the number is less. In that season 139, 180, 175, 252, 288, 175, 143, 153, 174, 164, 156 and 190 Harihans have been recorded from 2010 to 2020 respectively.
It is said that the bird is seen wandering in and around the lake due to the availability of water in other places as well during the rainy season. However, conservationists say that the number has been increasing due to improved ecosystem in the Lake area.
In 1992, 666 gooses were counted in the lake area. Although the numbers dropped sharply in the following years, it started to rise only during the last decade. However, deforestation, poaching, and human intervention during the breeding season have posed a challenge in their conservation, said ornithologist Hirulal Dangaura. "To protect the gooses, it is necessary to protect their natural habitat," he said. Similarly, the increasing use of chemical fertilizsers in agriculture has proved very harmful for the bird, said Dangaura.
Apart from the swan, wild paddy and crocodile are also considered indicative species of the Ghodaghodi Lake area.