An overview of the vertebrate diversity of sriharikota (India's Spaceport), southern india: Conservation perspectives

Abstract

Sriharikota is bestowed with one of the last remaining, largest and best preserved tracts of coastal tropical dry evergreen forests in India. Surveys were carried out from 2001 to 2007 to inventory the faunal species. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the status and distribution of the fauna of this region and discuss the significance of the island in the conservation scenario of the biodiversity of the Coromandel Coast. A total of 26 species of mammals, 215 species of birds, 29 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians and 53 species of fish were recorded. Some of the noteworthy findings were the occurrence of the grey slender loris Loris lydekkerianus and rusty-spotted cat in the island and a new species of yellow-green cat snake Boiga flaviviridis and the discovery of three unreported heronries in the island, including a large breeding colony of the threatened painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala). The beach on the eastern coast of the island is the nesting ground of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The main factor responsible for the rich biodiversity of the island, besides due to the variety of habitat types, is the takeover of the island by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the shifting of the human population from the island and the pro-conservation attitude of the authorities. It is suggested that such high-security and disturbed enclaves could play a role in protecting India's wildlife. However, the development and expansion plans of the spaceport are of concern, and there needs to be a judicious mix of wildlife conservation initiatives with developmental activities in Sriharikota and for other such biodiversity-rich enclaves.