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Lights Out: Nalsarovar Sanctuary Rescues Birds from Floodlight Threat
20 Jun
Summary
- Floodlights installed for anti-poaching were swiftly removed from Nalsarovar sanctuary.
- Conservationists feared artificial lighting would disrupt bird behavior and migration.
- Only minimal lighting for CCTV surveillance will remain at the wetland.
In response to wildlife concerns, Gujarat's forest department has dismantled newly installed floodlights at Nalsarovar sanctuary. The decision came swiftly after conservationists and ornithologists raised alarms that the artificial lighting would negatively impact the wetland's bird population, particularly migratory species.
These floodlights, intended to enhance anti-poaching surveillance along difficult-to-patrol routes, were solar-powered and featured high-intensity LEDs. Environmentalists argued they would disrupt feeding, resting, and roosting patterns, as well as birds' circadian rhythms and migration. Nalsarovar, a Ramsar-designated site, is vital for thousands of migratory birds annually.
Forest department officials confirmed the removal of all but essential lighting for CCTV recording of poaching incidents. Experts suggested alternative surveillance methods, such as night-vision cameras, could have achieved the same security goals without disturbing the sensitive bird habitat.
