As part of World Environment Day celebrations in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin officially notified a 5.3 sq km lagoon at Dhanushkodi (Rameswaram Island) as a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary.

This ecologically significant area along the Central Asian Flyway now receives formal protection aimed at preserving its vital biodiversity.

Key Points:

Sanctuary Notification: The 524.8 ha lagoon at Dhanushkodi is now legally designated, primarily to protect greater and lesser flamingos, herons, egrets, sandpipers, terns, plovers, and other migratory birds 

Rich Birdlife: A wetland census recorded 10,761 birds spanning 128 species, confirming the lagoon's importance as a roosting and feeding ground 

Marine Nursery: The site supports marine life such as fish, molluscs, and crustaceans, boosts local fisheries, and includes a turtle nesting beach 

Mangroves & Plant Diversity: Home to 47 plant species, including Avicennia and Rhizophora mangroves, which stabilize the coast and buffer storm surges 

Community & Tourism: The sanctuary will support ecotourism and local employment, while raising awareness about wetland conservation