BAROG TUNNEL

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A railway tunnel on the historic Kalka-Shimla track (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1642). SITUATION: South of Shimla [note 1] is the Panchmunda ridge, which is crossed by a railway through a tunnel, the longest in the Kalka [note 2] - Shimla run at Barog [note 3], where a series of fissure springs occur at its flank (hillwaystravels.tripod.com accessed 2006.07.01). POSITION: Barog Tunnel 30°53'N & 77°05'E (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1655). TUNNEL DESCRIPTION 2006: The belly of the Choordhar Mountain [note 4] holds the longest railway tunnel on the Kalka-Shimla route -- exactly 1143 m long (hillwaystravels.tripod.com accessed 2006.07.01). CAVE LIFE -- Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolopus ferrumequinum (Schreber 1774), the Greater horseshoe bat: In the month of May, four specimens were collected throughout the length of the tunnel. They were seen hanging from the wall of the tunnel in small numbers and their total number was estimated to be 90-100 individuals. The species was not recorded durng two subsequent visits to the tunnel within the following four months although small groups of Rhinolophus affinis (collected earlier at the site) and possibly another rhinolophoid (darker than R. affinis) were observed. Whether R. ferrumequinum use the tunnel as a seasonal roost or whether the bats simply evaded notice because of smaller numbers was not determined. Although the bats seemed to be indifferent to railway traffic, they became active and flew away when approached by humans (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1642). Rhinolopus affinis, Horsefield 1832 (Rhinolophidae), Intermediate horseshoe bat: Small groups of Rhinolophus affinis (collected earlier at the site) and possibly another rhinolophoid (darker than R. affinis) were observed (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1642). Vespertilionidae: Miniopterus schreibesrsii (Kuhl, 1819), Schreiber’s Long Fingered Bat: This species was observed roosting in Barog tunnel in large numbers (about 2000). Individuals were in close proximity to each other ad were pressed together in several layers (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643).ng two subsequent visits to the tunnel within the following four months although small groups of Rhinolophus affinis (collected earlier at the site) and possibly another rhinolophoid (darker than R. affinis) were observed. Whether R. ferrumequinum use the tunnel as a seasonal roost or whether the bats simply evaded notice because of smaller numbers was not determined. Although the bats seemed to be indifferent to railway traffic, they became active and flew away when approached by humans (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1642). Rhinolopus affinis, Horsefield 1832 (Rhinolophidae), Intermediate horseshoe bat: Small groups of Rhinolophus affinis (collected earlier at the site) and possibly another rhinolophoid (darker than R. affinis) were observed (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1642). Vespertilionidae: Miniopterus schreibesrsii (Kuhl, 1819), Schreiber’s Long Fingered Bat: This species was observed roosting in Barog tunnel in large numbers (about 2000). Individuals were in close proximity to each other ad were pressed together in several layers (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643).