Latest news with #LesserFlamingo
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Rare visitor: Lesser Flamingo sighted in Udupi
Mangaluru: In a rare and exciting development for birdwatchers in coastal Karnataka, a Lesser Flamingo, a species largely restricted to sub-Saharan Africa and western India, was sighted — for the first time — in Udupi on Friday morning. The lone bird was found near the Malpe estuary by birder Bhavani Rammohan, who immediately shared its photograph with Mohith Shenoy K of the Manipal Birders' Club to check whether the species was known to be found in this region. It was sighted again on Saturday morning, prompting several birders to document the unusual visitor, said Shenoy. "What makes the sighting even more remarkable is the habitat, a small pond located close to an ice factory, not a typical spot known for hosting migratory birds. Bhavani was surprised and wanted to know if this species is common here. This is not a place one would expect them," Shenoy added. The Lesser Flamingo is an uncommon visitor to peninsular India's eastern and southern coasts. In India, the bird is primarily found in the western region, with Gujarat serving as its key breeding and wintering ground. They breed mostly in the Little Rann of Kutch and disperse during the non-breeding season to parts of Maharashtra, and occasionally to inland wetlands in northern India, explained Shenoy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo He said that earlier this month, a greater flamingo was reported in Bengaluru, raising curiosity among the birding community about an unusual movement of the species this season. Meanwhile, birders say the winter birding season has almost begun, with several waders already making their presence felt along the coast. "Last year the season started early, and time too, the early arrivals are promising. The sighting of a Lesser Flamingo in Malpe adds to the excitement," said Shenoy. The birders' community is closely monitoring the estuary in the hope that the flamingo might stay around for a few more days. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Bolhuis supports fight to save South Africa's flamingo sanctuary
High-profile security and investigative specialist from Pretoria, Mike Bolhuis, expressed his deep concern over the state of Kamfers Dam in the Northern Cape near Kimberley. The site has become a toxic wasteland. 'Addressing this crisis requires more than promises. It demands sustained oversight, real investment, and the political will to prioritise environmental justice,' Bolhuis said. According to him, if left unchecked, the Kamfers Dam, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, will become a catastrophe that will serve as a warning of what is to come for other critical South African ecosystems already under threat. He has been actively involved in efforts to expose the environmental degradation at Kamfers Dam for several years. He assisted in a rescue operation in 2019 when a mass rescue of Lesser Flamingo chicks occurred at Kamfers Dam due to a severe drought. Many of these chicks were able to survive and were later returned to Kamfers Dam. Bolhuis is lending his full support to the multi-stakeholder effort to save the dam. This collaboration includes three organisations: – BirdLife South Africa, which continues to raise awareness about the ecological significance of the dam, – Ekapa Mining, which has invested in infrastructure and clean-up support, and – Save the Flamingo Association, which has long campaigned for habitat protection and water quality improvements. Local landowners and farmers have also voiced concern, particularly regarding the health risks posed by untreated effluent. The Sol Plaatje Municipality faced serious legal pressure early this year when environmental groups and landowners brought the case before the Northern Cape High Court. In April, the court granted an interdict compelling the municipality to halt all discharges, repair its infrastructure, and submit progress reports. The first report was due end of May. The next court compliance report is due in August. This united front underscores the urgency of protecting Kamfers Dam for the iconic Lesser Flamingos that depend on it, as well as for the health and dignity of nearby communities. As one of only four known breeding sites for the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) in Africa, the dam attracted up to 70 000 flamingos at its peak, including thousands of breeding pairs and hatchlings. Bolhuis pointed out that the collapse is largely attributed to municipal negligence and unchecked pollution, particularly from the Homevale Wastewater Treatment Works, which for years released untreated or partially treated sewage into the dam. By late 2024, an estimated 36 million litres of effluent per day flowed into Kamfers Dam. By December last year, the discovery of over 130 bird carcasses, many infected with avian botulism, confirmed a biological disaster in progress. According to Bolhuis, the flamingos have since disappeared. 'The artificial island is submerged, the water is toxic, and the birds are gone,' said Esther van der Westhuizen-Coetzer, a leading wetland ecologist at Ekapa Mining. 'This is a collapse, not a warning sign. We are already there.' According to Van der Westhuizen-Coetzer, 'The May progress report was filed on time, and recent water testing suggests a gradual improvement. It's a start, but only a start. Not anything more.' Bolhuis outlined urgent actions that need to be taken, such as immediate investment in sewage treatment infrastructure and independent as well as regular water quality testing with full publication of results. The consequences are not limited to wildlife. Residents in nearby informal settlements now report chronic respiratory issues due to hydrogen sulphide emissions. While the return of flamingos remains uncertain, conservationists are hopeful that sustained legal and civic pressure will prevent total collapse. BirdLife South Africa has called for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature status of the Lesser Flamingo to be reviewed, citing Kamfers Dam's implosion as a potential catalyst for moving the species from near-threatened to vulnerable status. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
