Point Climere Wildlife And Bird Sanctuary

Overview
Situated at the southern end of Nagappattnam district, Tamil Nadu the Point Calimere region was first identified as an area of high conservation significance, birds by the late Dr.Salim Ali in 1962. The sanctuary may be divided into three divisions: the Point Calimere Forest; the GVS, which includes the mangrove forests at Muthupet and the mangroves of TRF. It is the breeding ground or nursery for many species of marine fishes, which are vital to the fisheries of the coast.

It is a marine - coastal wetland with a wide diversity of habitats and ecological features, including: intertidal salt marshes, forested wetlands, mangroves and brackish to saline lagoons. The sanctuary has been designated as a Ramsar Site in November 2002.

Justification for Designation as Ramsar Site
The GVS is one of the largest waterbodies and major wintering ground for waterbirds in southern India. The forests of Point Calimere are also rich in both resident and migratory species of forest birds. A total of 257 species of birds have been recorded from the Sanctuary of which 119 are waterbirds and 138 forestbirds.
The wetland supports the vulnerable species spoonbill sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus and grey pelican Pelecanus philippensis according to the IUCN Red List.
It supports about 30,000 flamingos, 200-300 endangered grey pelican the endangered Asian dowitcher the rare spoonbill sandpiper and tens of thousands of other waterbirds. A total of 119 waterbird species have been recorded from the area.
The wetland is the breeding ground or nursery for many species of marine fishes which are vital to the fisheries of the coast. GVS is the spawning and/or nursing ground for commercially important prawns, crabs and fishes. Eastern part of the GVS harbours 23 fish species, mainly mullets, whereas the Mullipalam Lagoon at Muthupet has a more direct influence of the sea and harbours more marine species of fish, some 20 species.

Biodiversity Values

Flora
Due to the diversity of habitats, the vegetation of the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is equally diverse, ranging from dry evergreen forests, mangrove vegetation, salt marsh to grasslands.

The dominant trees of the forest are Manilkara hexandra and Salvadora persica in the open areas.

Insectivorous plants such as Drosera burmanii and D.indica are also present in the grassland habitat. Dominated by Halophytes such as Arthrocnemum indicum, Salicornia brachiata and Sessuvium portulacastrum are common along the marshy areas of the shore. Patches of Prosopis chilensis, Calotropis gigantea, Clerodendrum inerme and Pandanus tectorius occur in elevated areas. Ipomoea pes- capre, Spinifex littoreus and Zoysia matrella are common on the sand dunes. Avicennia marina is the dominant mangrove species in the area. At Talaignayar, the vegetation is charateristic salt - marsh vegetation. During the monsoon, aquatics such as Aponogeton natans, Bergia capensis, Najas graminea and Sphenoclea zeylanica occur. Pentatropis microphylla is a common twiner on many plants.

Fauna
Some of the major waterbird species are the greater flamingo and the lesser flamingo, spot - billed pelican, spoonbilled sandpiper, Asian dowitcher, whitebellied seaeagle, brahminy kite and osprey. Landbirds include paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta, Rosy starling, Blyth reed warbler, crested serpent eagle and brown shrike. Fourteen species of mammals have been reported from the Sanctuary. The larger mammals are the blackbuck, spotted deer, wild boar and jackal. The flying fox resides in large groups on trees in the Point Calimere forest and the mangrove forest at Muthupet. The blackbuck of Point Calimere represents one of the three isolated populations of blackbuck existing in Tamil Nadu with the other populations in the Guindy National Park and near Satyamangalam.

Social & Cultural Values
It provides for local income and employment specially in areas of salt production, forest produce, firewood and fish products. About 35,000 fishermen and agriculturists live around the sanctuary.

Threats
Threats to the sanctuary mainly comes from illegal extraction of timber and non timber produce.
There is danger from industrial pollution and poaching.
Domestic and industrial saltworks operating in GVS also pose a serious problem.


Conservation Measures
To conserve the blackbuck and other wild animals, an innovative freshwater source has been created. In the watchtowers, overhead tanks have been constructed, to supply water during the drought period and underground pipeline is laid up to 3 kms. to connect the overhead tank for the supply of water. The water source is from the bore - well equipped with motor. In 1988 a proposal was sent to the Tamil Nadu Government to extend the area of the Sanctuary to include the Great Vedaranyam Swamp and the Talaignayar Reserve Forest and rename the sanctuary as the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary. The promulgation of this new sanctuary is still in process.