Behavioral Response of Some Migratory birds and Gangetic Dolphins to COVID-19 Induced Lockdown: A Case Study in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), Bhagalpur, Bihar, India

Abstract

Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), Bhagalpur, Bihar is the only protected area in India for the endangered Gangetic Dolphins ( Platanista gangetica gangetica ). Besides, this sanctuary has been an important roosting, nesting and foraging ground for a large number of resident and migratory birds for the last many years. Birds are the Bio-indicators and play a major role to maintain the ecological balance being an important member of the different food chains. The imposition of complete lockdown in the country and abroad in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 like pandemic severely affected the life of a human as well animals both. Many alterations were seen in the environmental parameters such as in the quality of air, water and land due to complete lockdown resulting in unusual and uncommon bevaviors in birds and other wildlife. The present investigation was carried out to study the behavioral responses of some migratory birds and Gangetic Dolphins to CoVID -19 induced lockdown in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), Bhagalpur, Bihar. Many migratory birds were recorded just after lockdown even in the month of last week of May ( normal departure time is last week of March to the first week of April ) in 2020 and 2021. These birds were showing their prolonged stay in the sanctuary area in comparison to previous years. Detectability of Gangetic Dolphins was also observed significantly higher in comparison to other days. Gharials were sighted in both the years in 2020 and 2021 after a decade or more. All these uncommon behavioral changes as recorded in some migratory birds, Gangetic Dolphins and other aquatic fauna during and just after lockdown may be due to sudden and unexpected changes in the weather and climate or due to less human interferences and complete ban on fishing activity due to complete lockdown in the country and abroad. This study will be useful and informative for the birders, wild lifers and academicians too and may be a part of further research in the future.