Tamil Nadu Government Declares Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Dhanushkodi.
National
In June 2025, on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Tamil Nadu (TN) government officially notified the creation of the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary, through Government Order (G.O.) No. 127 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 covering 524.78 hectares at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district (TN).
- The sanctuary was inaugurated by Muthuvel Karunanidhi (M.K.) Stalin, Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu, through a video conference during an event hosted by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests (DoE&CC) in Chennai.
- The move aims to preserve a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds, enhancing protection for globally important avian populations.
- The designated area, part of the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, hosts diverse ecosystems such as mangroves, sand dunes, mudflats, and marshes, supporting rich biodiversity including migratory birds, marine species, and nesting sea turtles.
Main Point :- (i) Mangrove species like Avicennia and Rhizophora dominate the Dhanushkodi lagoon, serving as essential breeding grounds and providing natural coastal protection against erosion and extreme weather events.
(ii) Granting sanctuary status is expected to boost ecotourism, create local employment opportunities, and enhance public awareness on wetland conservation.
(iii) Notably, the 2023–24 wetland bird survey recorded over 10,700 wetland birds, covering 128 species including herons, egrets, sandpipers, and both Greater and Lesser Flamingos in the Dhanushkodi region.
About Tamil Nadu (TN)
Chief Minister (CM) : M.K. Stalin
Governor : R.N. Ravi
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