Greater Flamingo Sanctuary:
The Tamil Nadu government has officially declared a Greater Flamingo sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district.
- It is located in Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.
- It is nestled within the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
- The designated area is home to a variety of ecosystems, including mangroves, sand dunes, mudflats, and marshes.
- It is a critical stopover along the Central Asian Flyway.
- The move aims to preserve a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds.
- This region supports 128 bird species, including Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
- The area features diverse ecosystems and mangrove forests like Avicennia and Rhizophora, which stabilise the coastline and provide habitats for marine life, including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and nesting sea turtles.
- Greater Flamingo is a large wading bird known for its distinctive pink feathers and unique feeding habits.
- Its range spans Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe.
- It is usually found in shallow, saline, alkaline wetlands, such as salt lakes, coastal lagoons, intertidal mudflats, and salt works during the breeding season.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN: Least concern
- Wild Life Protection Act: Schedule-II.
