Now, an atlas to help save Madhya Pradesh fish Mahseer

INDORE: While radio-collaring of tigers is now common, an atlas for the endangered state fish of Madhya Pradesh — Narmada Mahseer (Tor tor) — is being prepared in a first of its kind experiment in the country. The forest department has begun identifying the occurrence of Narmada Mahseer and is mapping them in protected areas with Global Information System (GIS) technology.

GIS helps in capturing, checking, storing and displaying data on earth’s surface and can show different kinds of data on one map. “If you visit a place, you refer to a map. Similarly, for studying a species, we need to know its whereabouts, in what quantity they are found and what places are suitable for breeding,” said Shiparna Saxena, a Mahseer expert.

The Nagdwari and Sonbhadra tributaries of Denwa river have been explored. Officials said many juvenile fishes had been found in rivers and they were being mapped. A Rs 5-lakh budget has also been allotted for facilitating the survey.


Additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Indore, Pankaj Srivastava said a scientific protocol would be made with help of collected data and help of experts and communities to ensure conservation.

“We have started with Satpura and Devas tiger reserves and we will explore other wildlife sanctuaries in the future,” said Srivastava.

While conservation plans top the list of forest department, officials said they were facing some problems as many officials on the field do not have enough expertise to recognize the species. “We will be conducting training programmes for forest officials, including forest guards, deputy rangers and rangers to ensure mapping is effective,” he said. Forest department had also constructed an artificial flowing water repository in Barwah to conserve Narmada Mahseer.