Pallikaranai Marshland

Pallikaranai Marshland Latest News

Decades of urbanisation and indiscriminate dumping have reduced the Pallikaranai marsh to a fraction of its original extent. 

About Pallikaranai Marshland

• Location: It is a freshwater marsh and partly saline wetland situated about 20 kilometres south of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• It serves as an aquatic buffer of the flood-prone Chennai and Chengalpattu districts.
• It encompasses 65 wetlands, through two outlets, viz., Okkiyam Madavu and the Kovalam Creek, and falls into the Bay of Bengal.
• On its eastern periphery, the Marsh is flanked by the Buckingham Canal.
• It is one of the Ramsar sites in India.
• Fauna
  • The diverse ecosystem of the marshland supports some 115 bird species, ten mammals, 21 reptiles, ten amphibians, 46 fish, nine molluscs, five crustaceans, and seven butterfly species.
  • These include notable species such as Russell’s viper (Daboia siamensis) and birds such as the glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), grey-headed lapwings (Vanellus cinereus), and Pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).
• Threats: It continues to face significant anthropogenic pressures, including encroachments and sewage discharge.

Source: TH

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