Bandipora:In what conservationists are calling a remarkable ecological turnaround, Wular Lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has witnessed a dramatic surge in bird population, with recent counts suggesting a nearly threefold increase within a year. The wetland, one of Asia’s largest freshwater bodies and a designated Ramsar site, is abuzz once again with the calls of migratory birds, offering renewed hope for Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem.
According to officials involved in the Asian Waterbird Census, the number of birds recorded at Wular rose from around 75,000 last year to close to 295,000 this year, reflecting a 293 percent jump. Species that had grown scarce in recent years due to habitat degradation, siltation, and encroachment have returned in significant numbers, indicating that the lake’s ecological health is showing signs of revival.
Wetland officials attribute this resurgence to a combination of factors, including wetland restoration measures undertaken by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority. Over the past few years, authorities have intensified efforts to control siltation, remove encroachments, and curb pollution in and around the lake. Locals, too, have played a role by reducing unsustainable practices such as poaching of migratory birds. With water levels stabilising after a series of wet spells, the lake has become once again a favourable stopover for thousands of winged visitors from Central Asia and beyond.
“The increase in bird numbers is a positive ecological signal. Birds are indicators of the health of wetlands, and their presence in such abundance suggests that our interventions are beginning to yield results,” an official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
The surge is particularly significant because Wular Lake has long been under stress from human activity. Large parts of its catchment area have faced deforestation, leading to massive silt deposits. Pollution from surrounding settlements and unregulated fishing have further threatened its delicate ecosystem. For years, environmentalists warned that unless strong measures were taken, Wular risked losing its biodiversity altogether. The latest census offers a rare glimmer of optimism.
For locals, too, the revival of birdlife has become a matter of pride. Villagers living along the lake’s fringes said the sight of migratory flocks descending at dawn is reminiscent of earlier decades when Wular was a thriving habitat.
Tourism stakeholders believe the resurgence could also breathe new life into bird-watching and eco-tourism. With Kashmir’s wetlands playing host to rare and endangered species such as the ferruginous duck, northern pintail, and greylag goose, improved bird populations are likely to draw enthusiasts from across the country.
Environmentalists, however, caution against complacency. They argue that sustaining this increase will require continued vigilance against encroachment, stricter regulation of pollutants, and systematic monitoring of the lake’s health.
“Wular is an ecological treasure. Its revival is essential not only for birds but for the communities that depend on it for fishing, agriculture, and livelihoods. The surge in bird population is both a gift and a responsibility,” said a conservationist working in the region. [KNT]
