Book on flora, fauna of Pong Dam out

Tribune News Service

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Dharamsala, January 30

A book on flora and fauna of the Pong Dam wetland “Avi Fauna of Pong”, authored by the renowned ornithologist and assistant conservator of forests at Dharamsala DS Dadwal, was released at Nagrota Surian by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) JS Walia today.

Scientists from the British Trust of Ornithology Dr Francis, Dr Danniel and Tim Walker, Chief Conservator Forests SD Sharma and DFO Wildlife Subhash Prashar were also present.

The book is the result of painstaking work of Dadwal who has been studying the Pong Dam wetland over the past more than one decade. It consists of photographs and explains about 200 species of migratory birds that visit Pong Dam wetland.

Rare species that have been mentioned in the book include lesser white fronted geese, greater white-fronted geese, whooper swan, great knot, ruddy turnstone ,Indian skimmer, water rail, black-necked stork, water pipits, buff-bellied pipit.

It was the first book that contains information regarding the flora and fauna of the Pong Dam wetland.

Dadwal said the book would help increase knowledge regarding the rare migratory bird species that visit the Pong Dam wetland. He hoped that it would attract ornithologists and bird lovers from across the world to the Pong Dam wetland and increase eco tourism here. Some of the rare species also need special protection. The ecological diversity in the area also offers enough material for researchers, he said.