Ramsar Sites – Part 6
List of Ramsar Sites in India
(T)
Tamil Nadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park:
- Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and South-East Asia.
- Globally threatened species including the dugong (Dugong dugon), whale shark (Rhincodon typus), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) are present here.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Karikili Bird Sanctuary:
- The Karikili Bird Sanctuary comprises two rain-fed non-perennial irrigation tanks spreading over an area of more than 58 hectares.
- The near-threatened oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) breed here.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary:
- The Site consists of irrigation tanks interconnected by a network of canals built a few centuries ago and fed by the rivers originating from the Western Ghats Mountain range.
- It is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) on the Central Asian Flyway.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2021.
Pallikaranai wetland
- This freshwater marsh and partly saline wetland situated about 20 kilometres south of the city of Chennai.
- Apart from its biodiversity value, the wetland also plays a vital role in the prevention of flooding for the city of Chennai, soaking up water during wet periods and releasing it during dry spells.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Pichavaram Mangrove:
- It is one of the largest mangrove ecosystems in India and is located between the prominent estuaries of the Vellar and Coleroon Rivers.
- The Site hosts a natural hybrid species, Rhizophora annamalayana, which is derived from two species of Rhizophora: R.apiculata and another natural hybrid R.mucronata.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary:
- A coastal area consisting of shallow waters, shores, and long sand bars, intertidal flats and intertidal forests, chiefly mangrove, and seasonal, often-saline lagoons, as well as human-made salt exploitation sites.
- The vulnerable species Spoonbill Sandpiper (Euryhorhynchus pygmaeus) and Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) and some 30,000 Greater and Lesser Flamingos are present here.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2002.
Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary:
- The Sanctuary consists of human-made irrigation tanks, interconnected by an ancient network of canals and fed by the Mettur dam through the Koraiyar canal.
- Notable species observed include the oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Eurasian wigeon (Anas Penelope), Northern pintail (Anas acuta) and garganey (Anas querquedula).
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary:
- This site is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) which is a small irrigation tank in Vedanthangal village surrounded by rocky plains and low-ridged, denuded hillocks.
- Several species including the black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) are found here.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Vellode Birds Sanctuary:
- It is a human-made tank which is an ideal habitat for birds, due to the abundant food resources it provides from neighbouring agricultural fields, and other aquatic organisms.
- It is an important staging and breeding ground for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway and also resident species such as the Indian river tern (Sterna aurantia), oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala).
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Vembannur Wetland Complex:
- The Site forms part of an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and it provides suitable habitat to several species of waterbird.
- The common species found here include Indian river tern (Sterna aurantia), the spotted greenshank (Tringa guttifer), the garganey (Anas querquedula) and the grey pelican (Pelecanus philippensis).
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2022.
Tripura
Rudrasagar Lake:
- It is a lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeast hills, fed by three perennial streams discharging to the River Gomti.
- It is an ideal habitat for IUCN Redlisted Three-striped Roof Turtle Kachuga dhongka.
- It was declared as a wetland of international importance in 2005.