Tamil Nadu declares Greater Flamingo sanctuary at Dhanushkodi

To mark the World Environment Day the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday notified a Greater Flamingo sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district.

This initiative, part of the 2025-26 budget, aims to safeguard the area’s diverse ecosystems—including sand dunes, marshes, and mangrove forests—while protecting its role as a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.

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, in the presence of R.S. Rajakannapan, Minister for Forests, and Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests.

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. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, welcomed the move saying With this notification Tamil Nadu has added 8 new wildlife sanctuaries in the last 4 years including two bird sanctuaries.

“Today we take a leap in the conservation journey of Tamil Nadu with the notification of the Dhanushkodi Greater Flammingo Santuary. As announced by the TN Govt. The total Notified area is 524.78 Hectares. Nearly 128 species of birds, 47 plant species including Mangroves, Dugongs, Corals, Sea Grass and Molluscs species of turtles and birds thrive here” she said.

“With this notification Tamil Nadu has added 8 new wildlife sanctuaries in the last 4 years including two bird sanctuaries(Kazhuveli & Nanjarayan) and South Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve, Dugong Conservation Reserve, Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary & Dhanushkodi Greater Flammingo Santuary” she tweeted.