Alipurduar, Sept. 5: A recent survey has found that Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) has the highest number of fish species among all the forest reserves of the region.

A local NGO, Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation (Hnaf), conducted the survey last week with help from the forest department. Led by two zoology experts, Bimal Chanda and Nachiketa Banerjee, the joint team found as many as 63 species of fish in the BTR.

“The first phase of the survey, covering Gorumara, Jaldapara and Buxa, is over,” said Animesh Bose, programme coordinator, Hnaf. “We found quite a few rare fish, like ranga chanda, pipe fish, dwarika and khalisha. The number of species in the BTR is almost double than that found in the other sanctuaries.”

Most of the species in the tiger reserve are ornamental, not edible, added Bose.

The team took the help of local fishermen to study the species in the different rivers of the region, including Sankosh, Rydak, Dima, Nimati and Basra.

This is the first such survey since 1937, when G.E. Shaw and E.O. Shebbeare wrote about the variety of fish found in north Bengal. The two British men had depended solely on the species found in the local fish markets, said Bose.

The lack of a proper study of the species for the past 69 years has been felt deeply, especially because fish play an important role in maintaining bio-diversity.

The forest department showed interest in the Hnaf project as it promised them valuable insights into the status of water bodies within the protected areas. “The status of the indicator species in the aquatic eco-system will help us determine the pollution level in the water (the greater their numbers, the purer the water),” said L.G. Lepcha, field director, BTR. “Similarly, the survey will also be a pointer to the status of the food chain in the reserve, as many migratory and residential birds live on fish.”

Bose pointed out another important fallout of the survey. “Ornamental fish, which have been found in large numbers in the rivers here, are illegally sold in other countries at a very high rate. These species need to be conserved and forest villagers can be encouraged to breed them outside the protected areas so that they can have an alternative source of income by selling the fish.”

Bose added that the number of species have increased since 1937, but it was also time to think seriously about their conservation.