Latest news with #LesserFlamingos
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu gives sanctuary to Greater Flamingos at Dhanushkodi
CHENNAI: The state government notified the establishment of the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram on 524.78 hectares of land on the occasion of World Environment Day on Thursday. This apart, the state forest department also reinforced its workforce with a major recruitment drive and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) certified industries under the Voluntary Green Rating of Industries initiative, a first-of-its-kind. Marking the occasion, Chief Minister MK Stalin handed over the appointment letters along with the rating certificates to the industries. He also pledged his commitment to protecting the environment. Speaking at the event, Stalin said, 'Biodiversity and climate change are deeply interconnected. Tamil Nadu is leading the way as a state that not only understands this relationship but is also taking proactive steps in response.' 'We aspire not merely to achieve a US $1 trillion economy, but to ensure that it is environmentally sustainable. In driving this shift, we are empowering our young people with the skills and platforms they need,' he added. The Greater Flamingo Sanctuary, located within the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, is a critical stopover along the Central Asian Flyway. This region supports 128 bird species, including Greater and Lesser Flamingos. The area features diverse ecosystems – sand dunes, marshes, and mangrove forests like Avicennia and Rhizophora, which stabilise the coastline and provide habitats for marine life, including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and nesting sea turtles. The notification issued by additional chief secretary Supriya Sahu aims to safeguard this biodiversity hotspot and promote responsible tourism, benefiting local communities in Ramanathapuram.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu notifies Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi
The Tamil Nadu government has officially declared a Greater Flamingo sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the sanctuary via video conferencing on the occasion of the World Environment Day event organised by the Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests in Chennai on Thursday (June 5, 2025). Thangam Thenarasu, holding additional charge as Minister for Environment, R.S. Rajakannapan, Minister for Forests, and Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, participated in the event. The move aims to preserve a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds. The sanctuary spans 524.7 hectares and encompasses both revenue and forest lands within Rameshwaram taluk. The designated area, part of the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, is home to a variety of ecosystems, including mangroves, sand dunes, mudflats, and marshes. These unique features support a rich biodiversity, from migratory birds and marine life to nesting sea turtles. A Government Order (G.O.) issued on June 4, 2025, by Ms. Sahu, noted that according to the recent 2023-2024 wetland bird survey, the Dhanushkodi region recorded over 10,700 wetland birds, representing 128 species including herons, egrets, sandpipers, and both Greater and Lesser Flamingos. Mangrove species such as Avicennia and Rhizophora dominate the Dhanushkodi lagoon, providing essential breeding grounds and natural defenses against coastal erosion. The sanctuary status is expected to encourage responsible ecotourism, generate local employment, and raise public awareness about wetland conservation, the G.O. said. T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Srinivas Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden, also participated.
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Birdlife SA launches revised Red Data Book
Birdlife South Africa are proud to launch the revised Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini 2025 (RDB-online). This is a comprehensive, freely accessible online resource revealing the conservation status of the region's birds. This announcement was made during their annual general meeting in Cape Town on Saturday (May 24), marking a pivotal moment for regional bird conservation. Many of the birds listed as vulnerable or critically endangered can still be found within 50km of Ladysmith KZN. This includes White Winged Flufftails, Lesser Flamingos, Secretary Birds, White Backed Vultures, Grey Crowned Cranes and Crown Eagles, to name but a few. The revised Red Data Book was put together over three years. More than 137 ornithologists, conservationists and citizen scientists collaborated on 193 detailed reports to quantify 'risk of extinction' for the region's birds. This extends to an additional 70 endemic and near-endemic species still considered to be at a lower risk of extinction, such as the Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird. Also read: Road closure in certain streets due to maintenance The RDB-online provides insights into the conservation threats faced by the region's birds, as well as the effect of countermeasures put in place to protect them. The findings are alarming yet hopeful, and provide crucial insights into threats and clear pathways for conservation action. Ladysmith Birders president Peter Nelson had this to say about RDB-online, 'This is a seriously useful resource. I would recommend that everyone goes to look at the web page, as it's well worth the time.' Please follow us on our YouTube channel and do not be shy; please subscribe and comment as well. Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
