Thursday, June 6, 2013

Puntis denisonii:Miss kerala

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Common Name: Denison Barb, Bleeding Eye barb,
                    
Red-Lined Torpedo barb,rose line shark 

Family:Cyprinidae

Genus:Puntis

Species:P.denisonii



Physical Description: Small mouths. Streamlined and bullet shaped with shimmering color of gold, green, yellow, red and black. A horizontal black stripe from nose, across the eyes to base of tail, another horizontal stripe on top of this of red extending only midway with an occasional yellow just in between and  green-gold above this. The dorsal fin is touched with red and ends transparent with a yellow and black short stripe just before the tips. The underside is a soft Off-white. The fish attains a maximum length of 15 cm.


Habitat
Red line torpedo bard natively live in sub tropical climate in water with a 6.8 pH, a water hardness of 5-25 dGh and a temperature range of 65-79 °F. It lives in fast flowing highly Oxygenated Rivers and loves to swim against the flow in tanks with high flow from power heads.
It is a rare ornamental fish species, popularly called Miss Kerala, found in the Western Ghats, Although the government had banned the illegal collection of the fish, Red Lined Torpedo Barb (Puntius denisonii), in 1999. The eight rivers of the Kerala state including the Pampa, Achankovil, Chalakkudi, Chaliar, Manimala, Periyar and Bhararthappuzha,which are home to Miss Kerala, Most of the ones seen in the trade today originated from the Kozhikode Provenance of Kerala.
Puntis denisonii
Spawining:
Spawning of P. denisonni occurs during the months of November to April attains the sexual maturity in the first years of its life. A total ban should be put to destructive fishing practices and low enforcement enhanced, during the spawning season will reduce the threats to the species. As an ex-situ conservation practices, development of artificial breeding of the species have also been standardized  by college of Fisheries Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean studies(KUFOS) Kerala, India under Marine products Export Development Authority Project .


Conservations: The fish was declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, But as the demand for it is rising in the International market many continue to export it from the northern Districts of the state..The government of Kerala in Indian has banned fishing foe the endangered barb Puntius denisonii. Fortunatly, increasing numbers of P.denisonii are now being breed in captivity for ornamental fish trade, both India and elsewhere.  
Success:
 It was a major export revenue earner for the state in the ornamental fish export sector, with each of these beauties ranking in at least Rs.1.500.However, the export spree and absence of efforts at conservation led to the fish turning an endangered species. Now, even as Kerala is struggling to artificially breed the Tropical barb, United Kingdom’s Chester Zoo has successfully achieved the goal. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to be endanger in similar efforts. But according to K.Krishnakumar, Research Associate with Bangalore based Ashoka Trust for research in Ecology and Environment (AT REE), there is more hope for Kerala from the success of two Chennai Based fish lovers, Rabi Venkatesh and Murali
The duo bought a few Miss Kerala fish from Kerala and after acclimatizing them to Chennai. Injected hormones and allowed them to breed in a tank specially made for the purpose.The result, Mr. Kishnakumar says was 600 eggs in six hours. These were divided into two groups and in 15 hundreds of Miss Kerala These were divided into two groups and in 15 days of Miss Kerala progenies were swimming around in the tank (Hindu Daily,Thurdsay.Oct16,2008)

Miss Kerala

 


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Vagamon:'Scotland of Asia'

Vagamon:'Scotland of Asia'

Vagamon is at the fringe of the western Ghats and the foot hills on its lower side reach up to Teekoy with a gradual descent. This narrow strip of descending land gives a vital connectivity to the plains as both sides of vagamon up to kuttikkanam on the south west and moolamattom on the north east, are marked by steep and inaccessible hill slopes.Vagamon is enticing hill station of Idduki-Kottayam border in Kerala and is still untouched by the milling crowds. Vagamon is situated at an elevation of 1100 metres above sea level and it is a very ideal tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows, deep puzzling valleys and dales. The enchanting hill station dotted with tea gardens is promising enough to be one of Indias foremost eco-tourism projects and is destined to have a major say among the contemporary holiday resorts in the country. Reaching Vagamon itself is an extraordinary experience. The meandering road to Vagamon is cut in solid rock lined with pine forests.
meadows in misting time

Vagamon Meadows



Vagamon suicide Point

Vagamon Meadows Valley


Tea Plantation with blue sky

Vagamon heights
Specialties of vagamon

Vagamon also known as the 'Scotland of Asia'. National geographic traveler has listed Vagamon on their directory of the '50 most attractive places to visit in India’Grass covered hills velvet lawns and the cool mountain air make Vagamon a perfect exciting tourist place. The slopes of the Hills of Vagamon are not very steep and hence it facilitates adventurous sports like trekking, rock climbing, paragliding and other exciting activities. Vagamon is a perfect and blessed by nature, this place would make the tourists, environmentalist, ornithologist etc come back again and again, so that they could rejuvenate themselves and cherish memories of this enchantingly beautiful land. The vista of mist-clad pinnacles of the bluebrown hills, zigzag roads,Ever green shaded pine forest, Tea plantations, Water falls, the rocky terrain clad in lush green vegetation and the wild multi-colored blossoms that sway in the breeze will surely take away our breath. Inhale the fresh air coupled with the heady aroma of spices from the nearby plantations. While you ascend the stony serpentine paths leading towards the hills you will feel a slight shiver as the cool breeze caresses you and drifts away. 
Water falls

At vagamon there are several waterfalls with grassy hillocks stretching into the forest on one side and ending at the cliff on the other. This large tract of land has a small stream originating at the lake and going through.Water falls and the ravine. The steep hill tract which provides access to the water fall area is along the ridge and there can be many pavilions along that to enjoy rain, wind, and the infinite view of the hillscapes. There can also be performance podiums with the mountainous landscape as the background.
Water falls during Mansoon
Rocky out crop

The steep rocky hill tract is almost mountainous in character. The cliff and ravine topography area is ideal for adventure activities that would attract people who like gliding, rope climbing, jumping and the like. There can be viewing pavilions too, as gufas in the vertical surface of the hill which would attract people for staying inside. This can be carved out of the rocks and would provide an adventurous stay.
Rocky Cut Crop
Mistfull  Greenery

 Tea Estate 
 
You can witness one of the greatest tea estates in Kerala, here. There are many tea estate and the major ones are Pulikkanam Estate, MMJ Plantations. You can get permission from the Estate office and have a walk through the estate gardens and this for sure is going to be a worth the time you spend here.

  
Paragliding
Paragliding is the fastest growing form of adventure sports.Kerala Tourism in association with Adventure Sports and Sustainable Tourism Academy (ASSTA) is organising an international paragliding festival at Vagamon from April 6 to 8. The event would see over 40 international and national glider pilots.
Paragliding at Vagamon

Pine Forest

Need some Privacy and that too on the natures lap…This is the place to be…. Be it having a nap in the pines or having a long stride through the Pines, you will forget everything that you have had at your Office or what ever…. You cant miss it.. Keep some time aside to enjoy this place - The Vagamon Pines, we assure you, you don’t want to leave this place so soon….. or worse NEVER!
Pine vallaey
Vagamon, encircled by a string of three hills Kurisumala, Murugan Hill and Thangal Hill dedicated to three separate religious faiths-Muslim, Christianity and Hinduism is a placid place with inexplicable beauty and offers all sorts of activities from pilgrimage to nature trails.  So Visit the Vagamon hill station to experience eternal bliss and peace of mind.

 Kurisumala

Kurisumala  is a Christian pilgrim centre and one of the main attractions at vagamon. The main day of attraction is on Good Friday. This is where hundreds of devotees from far and near converge during the holy week and after to climb the hill carrying wooden crosses.
Kurisumala
Muruganmala

Murugan Mala, to the east of Kurisumala, is a hill that houses a rock-cut temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. Hundreds of devotees visit the place every year.
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Muruganmala
Thangal Para

A journey of about five kilometers from Vagamon, down the Elappara route, will take you to the Thangal Para, place of religious significance to Muslims. There is a Durgah here which is the resting place of Husrath Sheikh Fariduddin Baba, a Sufi saint, who is believed to have reached Kerala from Afghanistan about 800 years ago. Ganjusakkar (a sweet dish) is  the main offering here and the festival, Uroos, is conducted during the month of April.
Thangal Para
 Location 
Vagamon is located 39 km from Thodupuzha, 33 km away from Palai, 45 km from Kumily, 22 km from Kuttikanam and about 65 km from Kottayam. Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport while the closest railway station is Kottayam.