Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Dhanushkodi

Source: TH

Context: The Tamil Nadu officially notified a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Dhanushkodi to safeguard critical wetland habitats along the Central Asian Flyway.

• The sanctuary covers over 500 hectares and forms part of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.

About Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Dhanushkodi:

• What it is? A newly notified wildlife sanctuary aimed at protecting migratory wetland birds, especially greater flamingos, in their natural stopover habitat.

• A newly notified wildlife sanctuary aimed at protecting migratory wetland birds, especially greater flamingos, in their natural stopover habitat.

• Location: Situated in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. Spans 7 hectares of revenue and forest land within Rameshwaram taluk.

• Situated in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu.

• Spans 7 hectares of revenue and forest land within Rameshwaram taluk.

• Key Ecological Features: Located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, one of India’s richest marine ecosystems. Home to 128 bird species including flamingos, herons, sandpipers, and egrets. Hosts mangroves (Avicennia and Rhizophora), mudflats, marshes, and sand dunes. Recorded over 10,700 wetland birds in the 2023–24 bird survey. Supports sea turtle nesting and other marine biodiversity.

• Located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, one of India’s richest marine ecosystems.

• Home to 128 bird species including flamingos, herons, sandpipers, and egrets.

• Hosts mangroves (Avicennia and Rhizophora), mudflats, marshes, and sand dunes.

• Recorded over 10,700 wetland birds in the 2023–24 bird survey.

• Supports sea turtle nesting and other marine biodiversity.

• Significance: Serves as a vital node on the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds. Enhances ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and local livelihood generation. Provides natural protection against coastal erosion and climate impacts.

• Serves as a vital node on the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.

• Enhances ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and local livelihood generation.

• Provides natural protection against coastal erosion and climate impacts.

About the Greater Flamingo:

• Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus roseus

• Physical Features: Height: 90 to 150 cm and tall, pink wading birds with long necks and legs. Distinctive downturned bills used for filter feeding in shallow water. Coloration comes from carotenoids in their diet.

• Height: 90 to 150 cm and tall, pink wading birds with long necks and legs.

• Distinctive downturned bills used for filter feeding in shallow water.

• Coloration comes from carotenoids in their diet.

• Biological Traits: Builds cone-shaped mud nests in lagoons. Lays 1–2 eggs and both parents participate in incubation. Chicks are downy white and are fed by regurgitation.

• Builds cone-shaped mud nests in lagoons.

• Lays 1–2 eggs and both parents participate in incubation.

• Chicks are downy white and are fed by regurgitation.

• Social Behaviour: Highly gregarious, forming large colonies during breeding. Fly in coordinated V-shaped flocks. Known to stand on one leg—possibly to conserve body heat or energy.

• Highly gregarious, forming large colonies during breeding.

• Fly in coordinated V-shaped flocks.

• Known to stand on one leg—possibly to conserve body heat or energy.