Herpeto-fauna of Dudhwa-Katernia: Awareness and Conservation needed

The Terai of Uttar Pradesh is very rich in biodiversity. We all know it well, but when we talk of wildlife the picture of tigers, elephants and rhinos naturally dominates our mind. There are many species which are equally important but do not get that much attention; reptiles are one of them.

Recently the efforts have been made to enlist the important reptiles found in Dudhwa-Katernia landscape. The first hand information is being mentioned here.

1. Crocodiles: Crocodiles are from Crocodylidae family, the most ancient group of reptiles in existence for millions of years. The land scape have two types of crocodiles-Marsh crocodile or Mugger and Gharial. Mugger or Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) is found in Suheli, Mohana rivers of Dudhwa and Girwa and Kaudiyal rivers of the Katerniaghat. The snout of the animal is oval or rounded in shape. Its body length reaches upto 4 mts and weighs up to 200 kg. The other important crocodilian is Gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus). It is endemic and mainly found in Girwa river in Katerniaghat. The species attain a length of up to 7 mts. The long and narrow snout in peculiar feature of the animal which ends in a 'ghara' at the tip of the males. This species have been listed in 'critically endangered' category recently by the IUCN in Red Data Book.

2. Turtles and Tortoises: The fresh water turtles and tortoises are another major type of the reptiles found in this region. They belongs to Order Chelonia. Turtles and tortoises are easily recognised from all other animals by their characteristic bony shell. The shell has two parts, the carapace above and plastron below, joined along the flanks between the fore and hind limbs. The sexes are generally not easily differentiated with but the male generally has a longer tail and concave plastron. The majority of the species occur in the large river system of the Indo-Gangetic plain, many are semi-terrestrial. All turtles and tortoises lay their eggs in soil or sand for incubation. The turtle fauna of India comprises 31 species. 15 species of them are found in UP and all fifteen are found in Dudhwa-Katernia tiger reserve. The list includes:

Indian Roof Turtle (Pungshura tectum), Indian Tent turtle (Pungshura tentoria circumdata), Indian Tent turtle (P. tentoria flaviventris), Brown roofed turtle (P. smithii), Spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii), Crowned River Turtle ( Hardella thurjii), Three striped Roofed turtle (Kachuga dhongoka), Painted Roofed turtle (Kachuga kachuga), Indian Eyed turtle (Morenia petersi), Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga), Tricarinate Hill turtle (Melanochelys tricarinata), Indian Softshell turtle (Aspideretes gangeticus), Indian Peacock softshell turtle (A. hurum), Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata), Small headed softshell turtle (Chitra indica), Elongated tortoise ( indotestudo elongata).

3. Snakes: Snakes belong to Order Squamata of reptiles. Nearly 270 species of the snakes are found in India in which most of the snakes are harmless to the human life. Some of the important snakes found in Dudhwa-Katernia landscape are: Indian Python (Python molurus), Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa), Cobra (Naja naja), Russel's Viper (Daboia russelii), Himalayan Pit Viper (Gloydius himalayanus), Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Banded Krait (B. faciatus), Fresh water snake (Enhyris enhydris), Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator), Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus), Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii), Common vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta), Common Kukri Snake (Oligodon arnensis), Russel's Kukri Snake (O. taeniolatus) and Common Cat Snake (Boiga trigonata).

In Katerniaghat one can easily sight Pythons near Gharial centre and abandoned railway station. Most of the visitors even go and see resting pythons. It has been observed that pythons are breeding naturally and young one are borne every year. The presence of Banded Krait in a new information in Dudhwa and Katerniaghat. At both places the Banded Krait have been seen. I was fortunate enough to sight this snake twice in Katerniaghat. Both the sighting was in winter nights when snakes were usually not seen .

I have noticed that number of turtles are also increasing in the Katerniaghat. It is perhaps due to strict control on poaching and fishing in most of the water bodies in and around protected areas. I could see and photograph 5 different species of turtles in the recent past. At present one can easily see young and new borne Indian Tent Turtles in river Girwa sitting on the fallen trees.

Recently Mr. Brian D. Horne, a post-doctoral fellow based at the San Diego Zoo, who is about to start research on the red-crowned roof turtle (Batagur kachuga) in the Chambal National Sanctuary in association with the Turtle Survival Alliance and Madras Crocodile Bank was in Katerniaghat few month back to assess the area for turtle conservation. Mr. Rom Whitaker and MCBT has already selected Katerniaghat to study and research on population dynamics of Gharials in river Girwa, for which Mr. Abhijit Das has already landed in Katerniaghat and Ms. Laurel Converse will join him some where in October. Mr. PP Singh DD Dudhwa and Mr. Suresh Chaudhari has compiled a very informative brochure on 'Reptiles of Dhudhwa Tiger Reserve' for the common man to know about herpeto-fauna of Dudhwa and Katerniaghat. At field level awareness and conservation has increased but that is only in and around protected areas. There is always serious threat to the turtles in water bodies out of the reserve forests and sanctuary to be poached and smuggled to West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Photo-Branded Krait-Ramesh Pandey