Tamil nadu government notifies greater flamingo sanctuary at dhanushkodi

Tamil nadu government notifies greater flamingo sanctuary at dhanushkodi

It spans over 500 hectares and is part of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve; the move aims at preserving a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for migratory wetland birds.

The Tamil Nadu government has officially declared a greater flamingo sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the sanctuary via video conferencing at an event organised by the Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests in Chennai on Thursday to celebrate World Environment Day.

Thangam Thennarasu, holding additional charge as Minister for Environment; R.S. Rajakannapan, Minister for Forests; and Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, participated in the event.

Rich biodiversity

The move aims to preserve a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds.

The sanctuary spans 524.7 hectares and encompasses both revenue the and forest lands within Rameshwaram taluk.

The designated area, part of the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, is home to a variety of ecosystems, including mangroves, sand dunes, mudflats, and marshes.

These unique features support a rich biodiversity, from migratory birds and marine life to nesting sea turtles.

A Government Order (G.O.) issued on June 4, by Ms. Sahu, noted that according to the recent 2023-2024 Wetland Bird Survey, the Dhanushkodi region recorded over 10,700 wetland birds, representing 128 species, including herons, egrets, sandpipers, and both greater and lesser flamingos.

Ecologically crucial

Mangrove species such as Avicennia and Rhizophora dominate the Dhanushkodi lagoon, providing essential breeding grounds and natural defenses against coastal erosion. The sanctuary status is expected to encourage responsible ecotourism, generate local employment, and raise public awareness about wetland conservation, the G.O. said.

T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Srinivas Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden, also participated.