Kokkrebellur is a familiar name for anyone who is a regular on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. The village gets its name from the painted storks and spot-billed pelicans that have been migrating here since decades. The birds start arriving by November each year and the numbers peak by February. During this period, they mate, breed and lay eggs. Once the young ones hatch, they are nursed and all the birds fly back by June-July. These aves are highly revered by the local population who consider them as their daughters who arrive at their maternal home for delivery. They make every effort to conserve their habitat and truly protect the birds. They are considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
If you are a lover of birds, nature and conservation, the Nature Interpretation center in Kokkrebellur forms for an insightful visit. It sheds light on the history of Kokkrebellur, its surrounding landscape and explores the symbiotic relationship between the villagers and the birds. This small yet engaging center has been set up by World Wildlife Fund, India (WWF) in collaboration with HSBC’s Water Programme.
The center has several information boards related to the landscape and vegetation of Kokkrebellur as well as the flora and fauna of the region. The village is almost 300 years old and was earlier located on the banks of river Shimsha. However, in 1916, the village was struck by an outbreak of plague which forced people to migrate about 800 meters away. Surprisingly the birds followed suit preferring to live in close proximity to the human habitation in spite of the absence of a water body. The village which was declared a community reserve in the year 2007 is one of the 21 breeding sites of the spot-billed pelican in South India.
The center also depicts how the landscape, water bodies and vegetation around the village degraded due to increased agriculture and other socio-economic factors. Commercial fishing which deprives the birds of food, water contamination and other pollutants have drastically reduced the number of incoming birds.
In spite of all these factors, the spirit of coexistence with the birds is deeply embedded in the culture of the villagers of Kokkrebellur with even children being taught to protect the birds and their nests. The bird droppings are collected and used by the villagers to prepare organic manure by mixing it with cow dung and silt. Planting and protection of trees is encouraged and compensation and so is the practice of sustainable farming. . Also, seven wetlands in and around the village have been rejuvenated resulting in an increase in the foraging sites for the birds.
There is also is a rehabilitation center for injured storks and pelicans which has been set up and maintained by the locals who nurse these birds until they can fly again.
A detailed version of this article was originally published in The Hindu.
