Why in the News?
The Tamil Nadu government has officially notified a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district.
What is a Bird Sanctuary?
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About Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus):
- Overview: It is the largest and most widespread flamingo species, found across Africa, southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia, including India and Pakistan.
- Presence in India: India hosts both Greater and Lesser Flamingos. Greater Flamingo is the state bird of Gujarat.
- Behaviour and Diet: These birds form monogamous pairs and get their pink coloration from a diet rich in brine shrimp and algae. They are omnivores, feeding on invertebrates, small fish, algae, and decaying plant matter.
- Habitat: They prefer saltwater lagoons, mudflats, and saline lakes, and are important indicators of wetland health.
- Migration Pattern: Every year, 100,000–150,000 flamingos migrate from Gujarat to Mumbai, typically arriving in November and settling in the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
- Migration Triggers: Their movement depends on food availability, water levels, and colony crowding.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC) (species is widespread and abundant)
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II (protected but with lesser penalties than Schedule I)
- CMS (Convention on Migratory Species): Appendix II (species need international cooperation for conservation)
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): Appendix II (trade is regulated to avoid overexploitation)
About the Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi:
- Location: The sanctuary lies in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, spanning 524.7 hectares in Rameshwaram taluk.
- Habitat: It includes mangroves, sand dunes, mudflats, and marshes, supporting migratory birds, marine life, and sea turtles.
- Flyway Connection: The site falls along the Central Asian Flyway, a key route for wetland migratory birds.
- Bird Census: The 2023–24 wetland bird survey recorded over 10,700 birds, including herons, egrets, sandpipers, and both flamingo species.
- Ecological Importance: Mangrove species like Avicennia and Rhizophora dominate the area, offering breeding grounds and coastal protection.
| [UPSC 2015] With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
(1) It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations. (2) The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization. (3) It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’. Select the correct answer using the code given below: Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only * (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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