The significance of Ecopark, an urban park in Kolkata, West Bengal, in terms of the refuge of Herpetofauna

Abstract

An ecosystem's functionality and stability are naturally influenced by biological diversity. Herpetofauna is the part of this biological diversity which provide support to maintenance of natural diversity. The present study was carried out at Ecopark, West Bengal, India from June 2021 to June 2022 with the objective to assess the diversity of herpetofauna in an urban park in the context of massive urbanization of the outside area called Rajarhat. Present survey revealed the richness of the urban park in its herpetofaunal diversity where 21 species of reptiles and 5 species of amphibians with one Near Threatened, three Vulnerable and one endangered species were found. Colubridae family species was found highest. Influence on herpetofaunal diversity, it was determined that this park may play an important role in the conservation of those species.