Ahmedabad: The Gujarat forest department swiftly removed newly installed floodlights from Nalsarovar sanctuary after a Times of India report raised concerns that the lighting could harm the wetland's bird population.
TOI Report Triggers Action
On Thursday, TOI published a report titled 'Too bright for birds? Floodlights at Nalsarovar spark fears for wildlife,' highlighting that the department had begun installing floodlights within the sanctuary as an anti-poaching measure. The move alarmed conservationists and ornithologists, who feared artificial light would disturb bird behavior and discourage migratory species.
Environmental Concerns
Environmentalists and bird guides at the site reported shifts in bird activity and feared the floodlights could disrupt the behavior of birds that depend on Nalsarovar during winter. Soon after the concerns were published, forest department teams arrived with cranes and removed the floodlights erected along a circular route. Plans to install seven more poles were also shelved.
Official Confirmation
Jaipal Singh, principal chief conservator of forests, confirmed the decision: “All the lights have been dismantled. Only one is left per pole, and that too solely to facilitate CCTV recording of poaching incidents.” The department had initially installed three solar-powered lighting towers, each carrying seven high-intensity LED floodlights, to strengthen anti-poaching surveillance in difficult-to-patrol areas.
Conservationist Arguments
Conservationists argued that the plan contradicted the basic purpose of a bird sanctuary, warning it could disturb feeding, resting, and roosting patterns, disrupt birds' circadian rhythms, alter migration patterns, and raise stress levels among birds. Nalsarovar, a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance, attracts thousands of migratory birds each winter.
Alternative Solutions Proposed
A wildlife expert questioned the use of floodlights, noting that night-vision cameras, already deployed successfully in Gir and various tiger reserves, could serve the same surveillance purpose without illuminating sensitive bird habitat.
