ZSI prepares documentary on faunal diversity of East Kolkata Wetlands near Dhapa

Kolkata: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has started work for preparing a documentary on the faunal diversity of East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) near Dhapa off Eastern Metropolitan Bypass — one of the 26 Ramsar sites spanning across the country.

"We have chosen EKW for its uniqueness. It has a 200 year old indigenous system for waste water treatment.

The livelihood of so many people are dependent on it and at the same time, the microbial diversity is an asset. This is for the first time we are doing a documentary on a Ramsar site," said ZSI director Kailash Chandra.

It may be mentioned that spanning over an area of 8000 hectares patchwork of tree-fringed canals, vegetable plots, rice paddies and fish ponds, more than 20,000 people work in them — daily transforming one-third of the city's sewage and most of its domestic refuse into a rich harvest of fish and fresh vegetable.

"We have been working for nearly 100 years in EKW. However, in the recent past illegal landfills are on the rise. Wetlands are under threat due to exponential expansion of real-estate projects in Eastern Kolkata especially in Salt Lake and Rajarhat. The study will also highlight the impact of such landfill and construction activities on the fishes and other animals in EKW," a ZSI scientist said.

According to Chandra, fish diseases have also been an area of concern in EKW. "We will also find out the reason and hence take measures to control it," he maintained.

The EKW is known for its rare aquatic animals and Marsh Mongoose was discovered by ZSI from this wetland itself. The wetlands serve as a natural sponge absorbing excess rainfall and does its bit to reduce pollution.

The ZSI is also coming out with a comprehensive compendium of alien fish species that are posing a great threat to the 26 Ramsar sites which incude EKW.

The study will not only involve alien fishes that have invaded these sites but also suggest remedial measures to the state as well as the Centre for maintaining the ecological balance of these places.

According to ZSI scientists, as many as 19 alien fish species are affecting the indigenous fauna and thus destroying the entire eco-system

of these sites.

"Giant African Snail have sneaked into Ramsar sites including Bengal and feasting on the greenery. The number of birds around these sites have depleted as they are not getting enough fresh water fishes which is one of their main food," a senior ZSI scientist said.