Call to declare Samanatham tank in Madurai as bird sanctuary

Time of India

4 hours ago

Madurai: Researchers and birdwatchers have stressed the need to declare Samanatham tank in Madurai as a bird sanctuary, citing its rich biodiversity and critical role as a habitat for both resident and migratory birds.
They also noted that Madurai district does not yet have any officially declared bird sanctuaries or biodiversity reserves.
They participated in an awareness seminar on the bird diversity of Samanatham tank organised on Sunday by the Samanatham Biodiversity Management Committee and the Madurai Nature-Culture Foundation (MNCF).
Participants highlighted that Samanatham tank, spread over 203 acres under the Gundar sub-basin, hosts more than 165 bird species based on surveys conducted between 2015 and 2022.
Of these, 37 species are migratory, arriving during winter from the Himalayas and other countries, while 84 are local residents that breed in the area.
Tamil Dasan, convener of MNCF, said that the tank is home to around 2,000–3,000 birds throughout the year, and this number can swell to 12,000 during peak migratory seasons. "Notably, 23 of the recorded species are considered rare, with 10 species listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened birds, including the Indian spotted eagle, greater spotted eagle, painted stork, and black-headed ibis," he said.
M Ravindran, a bird researcher who addressed the seminar, said the lack of biodiversity reserves in Madurai limits opportunities for students and the public to engage with nature and conservation. Local residents and conservationists also urged the authorities to ensure regular irrigation supply to the tank from the Vaigai river, to help sustain the habitat and support birdlife year-round.
More than 20 local residents and several biodiversity experts took part in the seminar.