 Kukkarahalli tank was constructed in 1864 for the purpose of supplying potable water to Mysore City by erstwhile rulers, Wodeyars of Mysore. The tank is located at 12. 18’ 18” N, 76. 32’ 60” E, in Mysore District, Southern Karnataka. Tank is spread over 58 hectares. Being part of the prestigious Mysore University campus, tank is instrumental for more than hundred scientific papers. Surroundings of tank, gardens, lawns and avenues of campus accommodate 432 species of plants spread over 85 families (Rao & Razi, 1974). In addition, campuses of CFTRI, RIE, AIISH, Chandravana, and Mysore university makes vast stretches of green patch supporting varied life forms. In 70’s, University constructed a solid waste and silt traps to improve the water quality, as much of the sewage was entering through the southern feeder line. Part of this effluent treatment project, a bund constructed half-way was washed away at both the ends by a torrential rain, gradually changed into the present breeding island. Over the years abandoned island saw the growth of trees, slowly attracting local and wintering -roosting and breeding birds.   Fig: Breeding Painted Storks Colony Fig: Breeding Pelican Colony Tank is declared as Important Bird Area (designated IBA no. IN KA-20)because of breeding of vulnerable, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis; near threatened Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus . With the aid of Asian Development Bank, state government agency Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Board successfully diverted the sewage water inflow from the tank to treatment plant. Along with restoration of tank bund, a new walkway along the water body was made. ‘Nature priority of conservation’ didn’t receive importance but the ‘human centred’ lake development did, and failed to ensure a steady inflow of fresh water into the lake by removing the encroachments along the feeder canal. The new all season walkway has increased tremendous human density in the morning and evening hours disturbing the birds in shore, marsh, water and terrestrial in the vicinity.  Fig: Breeding Island The lake had a small catchment area of 4.5 Sq.Km. However, the feeder Canal of 22.5 km long did ensure the fresh water flow. Improper planning of new extension and encroachment has destroyed the feeder canal of the lake. The restoration of the lake without restoring the feeder canal is resulting into fast eutrophication, but often, timely rain is saving the lake.
 Two age old trees (more than 100 year old) located in Mysore University
Campus -Ficus religiosa and Tamarindus indica, have been declared as Heritage
trees by Committee for protection of Heritage trees of Mysore.ButterfliesStudy over a period of a decade has resulted in observation of 85 species representing all the five families. Regularly Common Sailer Neptis hylas, Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace, Psyche Leptosia nina and rarely Bamboo Tree Brown Lethe europa, Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus are met with. Occasionally rare butterfly like -Chestnut streaked Sailer, Gaudy Baron and Peacock Royal have been recorded. Abundance, seasonal variation and encounter frequency have been depicted below. Repeated clearance of under herb and shrub in tank bed has drastically reduced the diversity and density count.    References and Additional Reading:
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