{"id":103710,"date":"2026-05-16T16:15:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T10:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=103710"},"modified":"2026-05-16T16:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T10:45:12","slug":"bird-sanctuaries-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/bird-sanctuaries-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird Sanctuaries in India, Map, List, First &#038; Largest Sanctuary"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Bird sanctuaries in India<\/strong> are protected natural areas created for conserving resident and migratory bird species along with their habitats. India has nearly 72 major bird sanctuaries and around 1,210 recorded bird species. These sanctuaries include wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, lakes, estuaries, forests and coastal ecosystems. They support ecological balance through pollination, seed dispersal, pest control and biodiversity conservation while also promoting eco tourism, scientific research and environmental awareness across different regions of India.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Bird Sanctuaries in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Sanctuaries in India conserve avian biodiversity through protected habitats, legal safeguards, scientific monitoring and ecosystem management across India\u2019s ecological regions.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Definition: Bird sanctuaries are legally protected natural areas established for conserving indigenous and migratory birds, protecting breeding grounds, safeguarding wetlands and maintaining ecological balance through habitat preservation and regulated human activity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diversity: Indian bird sanctuaries support nearly 1,210 bird species, including flamingos, pelicans, cranes, herons, storks, ibises, ducks, raptors, hornbills, bustards and endemic Western Ghats species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Habitat: Indian bird sanctuaries include freshwater lakes, mangrove forests, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/estuary-ecosystem\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>estuaries<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/grasslands-in-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>grasslands<\/strong><\/a>, marshlands, river basins, coastal lagoons, reservoirs, islands and forest ecosystems supporting diverse feeding and nesting requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Importance: Sanctuaries receive migratory birds from Siberia, Central Asia, Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, the Arctic Circle, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/himalayan-region-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Himalayas<\/strong><\/a> and Southeast Asia during winter between October and February every year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecological Functions: Birds assist in pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, scavenging, nutrient cycling and maintaining aquatic ecosystems while acting as indicators of environmental health and climate related ecological changes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal Framework: Most bird sanctuaries are protected under the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wildlife-protection-act\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972<\/strong><\/a>, while wetlands receive additional protection under Ramsar Convention provisions and state forest conservation regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ramsar Recognition: Important bird habitats like Vedanthangal, Chilika Lake, Soor Sarovar, Pong Dam Lake, Khijadiya and Nal Sarovar have international wetland recognition under the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ramsar-convention-on-wetlands\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ramsar Convention<\/strong><\/a> framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Management Authorities: Bird sanctuaries are managed mainly by State Forest Departments, Wildlife Boards, Wetland Authorities and conservation agencies with support from BNHS and local community participation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tourism and Research: Sanctuaries promote sustainable eco tourism, birdwatching, photography, biodiversity surveys, ecological studies, migratory tracking and conservation awareness among students, researchers and nature enthusiasts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major Threats: Habitat degradation, pollution, invasive species, fishing pressure, agricultural runoff, climate change, urbanization, wetland shrinkage, illegal hunting and water scarcity threaten many Indian bird sanctuaries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>State Wise List of Bird Sanctuaries in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Sanctuaries in India are distributed across wetlands, forests, rivers, grasslands, mangroves and coastal ecosystems in multiple states and union territories.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Andhra Pradesh<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kolleru Bird Sanctuary: Also known as Atapaka Bird Sanctuary, located between Krishna and Godavari deltas, Kolleru Lake supports grey pelicans and painted storks, both categorized as Near Threatened species under the IUCN Red List.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary: Nellore district sanctuary is India\u2019s major breeding site for spot billed pelicans and hosts black capped kingfishers, painted snipes, gull billed terns and whimbrels during migratory seasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rollapadu Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary: This grassland sanctuary protects the endangered Great Indian Bustard while also supporting floricans, larks, harriers and blackbucks in semi arid ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary: The sanctuary protects dry deciduous forests and supports Indian long billed vultures, pied kingfishers, black winged stilts, open billed storks and monsoon migratory bird populations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pulicat-lake\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary<\/strong><\/a>: India\u2019s second largest brackish water lagoon hosts flamingos, pelicans, painted storks, ducks, gulls and terns while serving as an important feeding and nesting ground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary: This sanctuary near Guntur is known for painted storks, pelicans, black headed ibises, pintail ducks and community led bird conservation practices around village water bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Assam<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bordoibam Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary: This wetland sanctuary protects migratory waterfowl and riverine biodiversity along the Brahmaputra floodplain ecosystem with rich aquatic vegetation and marsh habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary: Located near the Dihing River, the sanctuary supports migratory ducks, storks, eagles and wetland birds in northeastern India\u2019s floodplain ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Bihar<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bareli Jheel Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: This wetland sanctuary supports migratory waterbirds, herons, storks and ducks while providing important feeding habitats in Bihar\u2019s floodplain region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary: Located in Darbhanga district, the sanctuary attracts migratory birds from Central Asia and Siberia while conserving floodplain wetlands and marsh ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saraiya Man Bird Sanctuary: The sanctuary preserves freshwater wetlands supporting ducks, cranes, egrets and migratory birds during winter migration seasons across northern India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary: Jamui district sanctuary hosts more than 136 bird species including bar headed geese, Indian courser, yellow wattled lapwing and Indian robin near Jharkhand border wetlands.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Chandigarh<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">City Bird Sanctuary: Chandigarh\u2019s urban bird sanctuary protects migratory and resident bird populations while promoting urban biodiversity conservation and environmental education activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Delhi<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Okhla Bird Sanctuary: Located on the Yamuna River near Noida, this wetland sanctuary supports Oriental skylarks, spot billed ducks, parakeets, stilts, kingfishers and winter migratory waterfowl.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Najafgarh Drain Bird Sanctuary: This important urban wetland habitat supports sarus cranes, painted storks, black necked storks, black headed ibises and migratory waterbird populations near Delhi NCR.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Goa<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Located on Chorao Island along the Mandovi estuary, the mangrove sanctuary supports kingfishers, egrets, drongos, curlews, cormorants and migratory shorebirds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Gujarat<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naliya Grassland (Lala Bustard WLS): This grassland sanctuary in Kutch region conserves the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard along with desert birds and arid ecosystem fauna.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary: Ramsar recognized wetland near Jamnagar supports flamingos, pelicans, geese, buntings, rollers, grebes, storks and migratory waterbirds across freshwater and marine habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kutch Bustard Sanctuary: Sanctuary protects bustards, pelicans, painted storks, cranes and desert avifauna across saline grasslands and semi arid ecosystems of Kutch.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary: Gujarat\u2019s largest wetland bird sanctuary spreads over 120.82 square kilometers and hosts flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, sarus cranes, ducks and marsh birds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Porbandar Bird Sanctuary: Urban wetland sanctuary supports flamingos, pelicans, geese, spoonbills, jacanas, gulls, storks, avocets and migratory shorebirds throughout winter months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary: Ramsar recognized wetland supports Dalmatian pelicans, flamingos, Indian skimmers, sarus cranes and greater spotted eagles in marshland ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary: Coastal grassland sanctuary conserves Great Indian Bustards, flamingos, partridges, sand grouses, jackals and blue bulls across western Gujarat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wachana Bird Sanctuary (proposed): The sanctuary supports migratory wetland birds and local avifauna within Gujarat\u2019s semi arid ecological landscapes and freshwater habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Haryana<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary: Haryana\u2019s largest wetland sanctuary supports Egyptian vultures, steppe eagles, black bellied terns, migratory ducks and diverse marshland biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/snp-upsc\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary<\/strong><\/a>: Gurgaon district sanctuary hosts nearly 250 bird species including storks, kingfishers, egrets, doves, cranes and winter migratory birds from Europe and Central Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary: Wetland sanctuary supports peafowls, hornbills, barbets, nilgai, coucals and migratory waterfowl near the Bhindawas ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Himachal Pradesh<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary: Himalayan sanctuary protects forest birds, pheasants and montane biodiversity across high altitude temperate forest ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kais Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Kullu valley, the sanctuary supports Himalayan birds, monals, pheasants and rich coniferous forest biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pong Dam Lake Bird Sanctuary: Declared bird sanctuary in 1983, the Ramsar wetland attracts migratory bar headed geese, cranes, gulls and ducks from Central Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gobind Sagar Bird Sanctuary: Reservoir ecosystem sanctuary supports aquatic birds, migratory waterfowl and wetland biodiversity along Sutlej basin habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gamgul Sanctuary: Chamba district sanctuary conserves Himalayan fauna including ibex, musk deer, goral, tahr and high altitude bird species.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Jharkhand<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Udhuwa Lake Bird Sanctuary: Jharkhand\u2019s only bird sanctuary supports migratory ducks, egrets, herons and wetland birds across twin oxbow lake ecosystems near the Ganga basin.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Karnataka<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary: Sanctuary supports migratory waterbirds, cormorants, egrets and riverine avifauna along the Ghataprabha River reservoir ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bankapur Peacock Conservation Reserve: Famous for large peacock populations, the reserve also supports owls, bee eaters, kingfishers, robins, parakeets and hornbills.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gudavi Bird Sanctuary: Shivamogga sanctuary hosts white ibises, cranes, herons, grebes and cormorants amid dense freshwater marsh vegetation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kokkare Bellur Community Reserve: Community managed reserve is internationally known for spot billed pelicans and painted storks nesting near village habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/ranganathittu-bird-sanctuary\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary<\/strong><\/a>: Karnataka\u2019s largest bird sanctuary on the Kaveri River consists of six islands supporting storks, spoonbills, pelicans, river terns and kingfishers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adichanchunagiri Wildlife Sanctuary: Sanctuary protects dry forest ecosystems and bird species associated with scrubland and rocky hill habitats in southern Karnataka.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attiveri Bird Sanctuary: Sanctuary hosts spoonbills, kingfishers, cormorants, hornbills, ibises and migratory waterbirds around reservoir ecosystems in Belagavi district.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kaggaladu Bird Sanctuary: This village sanctuary supports painted storks, grey pelicans, blackbucks and herons through community based conservation practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magadi Bird Sanctuary: Reservoir sanctuary supports flamingos, purple herons, ibis species, waterhens and migratory ducks across freshwater wetland habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary: River island sanctuary supports darters, storks, herons, egrets and kingfishers along the Tunga River ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puttenahalli Lake Bird Sanctuary: Urban wetland sanctuary near Bengaluru hosts spoonbills, pelicans, storks, sandpipers, ducks and purple moorhens.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Kerala<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary: Estuarine sanctuary supports sandpipers, gulls, terns, cormorants, herons and Brahminy kites along Kerala\u2019s coastal wetland ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: Vembanad Lake sanctuary hosts nearly 180 bird species including herons, flycatchers, cranes, owls, ducks, gulls and Siberian migratory birds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary: Urban mangrove wetland sanctuary in Kochi supports marsh sandpipers, greenshanks, waterhens and brahminy kites amid dense mangrove vegetation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chulanur Peafowl Sanctuary: Kerala sanctuary mainly protects Indian peafowl populations while preserving dry deciduous forest habitats and associated avifauna.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thattekad Bird Sanctuary: Kerala\u2019s first bird sanctuary established on Periyar River banks supports more than 280 species including Malabar hornbills and Ceylon frogmouths.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pathiramanal Sanctuary: Island sanctuary on Vembanad Lake supports jacanas, teals, terns, pygmy geese, kingfishers and migratory waterfowl populations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Lakshadweep<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pitti Wildlife Sanctuary: Coral island sanctuary protects nesting seabirds and marine avifauna within Lakshadweep\u2019s fragile island and reef ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Madhya Pradesh<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghatigaon Bustard Sanctuary: Sanctuary protects grassland ecosystems and endangered bustard populations in northwestern Madhya Pradesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Karera Bustard Sanctuary: Historic bustard conservation area once supported Great Indian Bustards and grassland bird diversity near Shivpuri region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sailana Kharmor Sanctuary: Ratlam sanctuary conserves Lesser Florican populations during monsoon breeding seasons across grassland ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sardarpur Kharmor Sanctuary: Sanctuary protects Lesser Florican breeding habitats and migratory grassland birds in western Madhya Pradesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Maharashtra<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mayani Bird Sanctuary: Satara wetland sanctuary attracts Siberian migratory birds including flamingos, spoonbills, ducks, ibis, kingfishers and painted storks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary: Nannaj sanctuary protects critically endangered Great Indian Bustards alongside shrikes, larks and arid grassland bird species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaikwadi Bird Sanctuary: Reservoir sanctuary supports flamingos, ducks, cranes, geese and aquatic birds around the Nath Sagar waterbody ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary: Grassland sanctuary protects bustards and dryland avifauna within Maharashtra\u2019s semi arid ecological landscapes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Karnala Bird Sanctuary: Western Ghats sanctuary near Mumbai supports hornbills, parakeets, sunbirds, Malabar larks, pigeons and endemic forest birds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naigaon Mayur Sanctuary: Sanctuary primarily conserves peafowl populations while supporting dry scrubland bird diversity in Maharashtra.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary: Known as Maharashtra\u2019s Bharatpur, the wetland sanctuary hosts flamingos, spoonbills, ducks, ibises, cranes, curlews and migratory waterfowl.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Nagaland<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ghosu Bird Sanctuary: Community managed sanctuary protects Bunting, Cuckoo, Himalayan Black Bulbul, Great Eared Nightjar and other forest diversity through traditional conservation practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Odisha<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nalabana Bird Sanctuary: Located within Chilika Lake, the sanctuary attracts flamingos, pelicans, herons and migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary: Asia\u2019s largest brackish water lagoon supports over 160 bird species along with Irrawaddy dolphins, fishing cats and endangered wetland biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mangalajodi Bird Sanctuary: It is a community driven conservation area located at the edge of Chilika Lake. Famous for birdwatching and sightseeing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Punjab<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harike Lake Bird Sanctuary: India\u2019s largest wetland in northern plains supports migratory ducks, geese, cranes and aquatic biodiversity near the Sutlej Beas confluence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Rajasthan<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keoladeo National Park\/ Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: UNESCO World Heritage Site supports over 370 bird species including Siberian cranes, pelicans, pythons, deer and wetland biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khichan Bird Sanctuary: It is located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. The sanctuary supports the conservation of several migratory birds including Demoiselle Cranes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Sikkim<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kitam Bird Sanctuary: Himalayan sanctuary protects subtropical forest birds and migratory avifauna along riverine ecosystems in southern Sikkim.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Tamil Nadu<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary: Sanctuary supports pelicans, painted storks, egrets and grey herons across shallow wetland habitats in Ramanathapuram district.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary: Wetland sanctuary hosts ibises, egrets, painted storks and migratory nesting birds amid village tank ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary: It is located at the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and hence shared by both of the states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Melaselvanur Kilaselvanur Bird Sanctuary: It is located in Ramanathapuram District and was designated in 2010. It protects- pelicans, storks, ibis, egrets, herons, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therthangal Bird Sanctuary: It was designated in 2010 and was declared a Ramsar Site in 2024. It protects: pelicans, storks, herons, darters, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary: Community supported sanctuary conserves pelicans, darters, pintails, pond herons and migratory ducks across freshwater wetlands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary: It was designated as a bird sanctuary in 2012 and was designated as <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ramsar-sites-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ramsar Site<\/strong><\/a> in 2024. It conserves 120 species of resident and migratory waterbirds such as pelicans, ibises, herons, darters, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary: India\u2019s oldest bird sanctuary established in 1936 hosts more than 40,000 migratory birds including teal, ibis, pelicans and spoonbills every winter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary: Wetland sanctuary supports migratory ducks, cranes, pelicans and freshwater birds in deltaic Tamil Nadu ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary: Small wetland sanctuary hosts darters, spoonbills, ibises, storks and herons in southern Tamil Nadu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary: Sanctuary hosts moorhens, ibises, cormorants, spoonbills, storks and migratory waterfowl in delta wetlands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vellode Birds Sanctuary: Wetland ecosystem supports teals, pelicans, pintail ducks, cormorants and darters during winter migration seasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Karikili Bird Sanctuary: Adjacent to Vedanthangal, the sanctuary supports ducks, pelicans, ibises and migratory waterbird populations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary: It is a brackish water wetland. It supports waterbirds such as pelicans, storks, herons, terns, etc. and was designated a Ramsar Wetland in 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oussudu Lake Bird Sanctuary: It is a freshwater wetland that supports herons, storks, pelicans, ducks, etc. It is also a Ramsar Site (2022).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary: It supports birds like bar headed geese, pintail, garganey, herons, ibis and storks. It was declared a Ramsar Site in 2022 and acts as a major wintering habitat for waterfowl in Tamil Nadu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary: It is the largest breeding waterbird reserve in Southern India and hosts 1000+ species such as pelicans, painted storks, herons, ibis and bar headed geese. It was designated as Ramsar Site in 2021.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Uttar Pradesh<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Okhla Bird Sanctuary: It is located at the border of Noida in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district. It protects: Shoveller Duck, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Gadwall Duck and Blue Winged Teal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary: It is located in the Gonda District of UP under the Sohelwa Wildlife Division. It supports more than 153 species of avifauna.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bakhira Sanctuary: Eastern Uttar Pradesh wetland supports migratory ducks, cranes and marshland birds across extensive freshwater ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary: Sanctuary supports sarus cranes, jacanas, pheasant tailed birds, storks, ibises, rollers and diverse wetland avifauna.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/shekha-jheel-bird-sanctuary-as-indias-99th-ramsar-site\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/a><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This freshwater wetland became India\u2019s 99th Ramsar Site in 2026 and supports over 200 bird species including bar-headed goose, painted stork, northern pintail, and migratory waterfowl along the Central Asian Flyway while also aiding groundwater recharge and flood control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary: Keetham Lake sanctuary became Ramsar site in 2020 and supports nearly 24 migratory and resident bird species near Agra.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patna Bird Sanctuary: Wetland sanctuary supports geese, gadwalls, pintails, shovelers, wigeons and migratory aquatic birds during winter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saman Sanctuary: Sanctuary protects sarus cranes, black necked storks, eagles, hawks, vultures and wetland birds across shallow lake ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samaspur Sanctuary: Rae Bareli wetland sanctuary hosts teals, kingfishers, vultures and migratory aquatic birds during winter months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sandi Bird Sanctuary: Ramsar wetland supports common teal, ferruginous ducks, red crested pochards and vulnerable sarus cranes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lakh Bahosi Sanctuary: Twin wetland sanctuary supports migratory birds alongside jackals, fishing cats, blue bulls and wetland biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarsai Nawar Wetland: Important wetland habitat supports greylag geese, greenshanks, pintails and wigeon populations in central Uttar Pradesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surha Tal Bird Sanctuary: Large oxbow wetland supports migratory waterfowl and riverine bird diversity in eastern Uttar Pradesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Uttarakhand<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asan Barrage Bird Sanctuary: Ramsar wetland near Dehradun attracts migratory waterbirds including geese, ducks, cormorants and riverine bird species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve: Located near Nainital and supports more than 200 species of birds like- Himalayan Griffon, Koklass Pheasant, Hill Partridge, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>West Bengal<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary: Kolkata sanctuary supports kingfishers, cuckoos, bee eaters, orchids, butterflies and urban forest bird biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary\/Kulik Bird Sanctuary: Sanctuary hosts one of Asia\u2019s largest Asian Openbill colonies along with herons, cormorants and night herons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pakhibitan Bird &amp; Wildlife Sanctuary (Gajoldoba): It is an important stop over for the migratory birds arriving from Central Asian Flyway.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Puducherry<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oussudu Bird Sanctuary: International wetland sanctuary supports migratory birds, marsh ecosystems and aquatic biodiversity across Tamil Nadu-Puducherry border landscapes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Telangana<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manjira Bird Sanctuary: Situated along the Manjira River reservoir system, this sanctuary protects aquatic birds, marshland ecosystems, crocodiles and freshwater biodiversity in the Deccan plateau region.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Famous Bird Sanctuaries in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s famous bird sanctuaries attract migratory species globally and represent major wetland, grassland, mangrove and forest ecosystems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The map for the major famous Bird Sanctuaries in India has been attached below:<\/b><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/current-affairs\/2026\/05\/Bird.webp\" alt=\"Bird Sanctuaries in India\" title=\"Bird Sanctuaries in India\" class=\"my-image my-image-size-full my-image-align-center\" style=\"width: auto; height: 1350px;\" \/>\n<h3><b>Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UNESCO Recognition: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the world\u2019s finest wetland bird conservation habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Diversity: The sanctuary supports more than 370 bird species including pelicans, cranes, geese, ducks, hawks, eagles and the rare Siberian crane.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecological Richness: Besides birds, the sanctuary supports deer, nilgai, pythons, turtles, fish species, amphibians and nearly 379 floral species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Importance: Thousands of migratory birds from Siberia, Central Asia and Europe arrive during winter, making it India\u2019s most internationally recognized bird habitat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historical Importance: The sanctuary derives its name from the ancient Keoladeo temple situated within the protected wetland landscape.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wetland Significance: Gujarat\u2019s largest wetland bird sanctuary spreads over 120 square kilometers with marshes, shallow lakes and migratory bird habitats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Species: Flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, sarus cranes, ducks, coots and avocets arrive in large numbers during winter migration periods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ramsar Importance: Nal Sarovar is internationally recognized for wetland conservation and bird biodiversity within western India\u2019s semi arid ecological zone.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tourism Value: Birdwatching, boating, wetland photography and ecological tourism attract thousands of visitors between November and February annually.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oldest Sanctuary: Established in 1936, Vedanthangal is India\u2019s oldest bird sanctuary and among the earliest organized wetland conservation areas in South Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Population: More than 40,000 migratory birds including garganey, teal, ibis, pelicans, spoonbills and herons visit annually during winter months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ramsar Recognition: The sanctuary received Ramsar wetland status in 2022 for its international ecological and migratory bird conservation importance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecological Feature: Birds nest on partially submerged trees, creating unique breeding colonies within shallow freshwater lake ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Riverine Ecosystem: Karnataka\u2019s largest bird sanctuary consists of six islands formed across the Kaveri River near Mysuru and Mandya districts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Species: The sanctuary hosts painted storks, spoonbills, pelicans, cormorants, ibis species, river terns, kingfishers and migratory waterbirds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tourism Accessibility: Located near Bengaluru and Mysuru, the sanctuary is among southern India\u2019s most visited birdwatching destinations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conservation Value: River islands provide safe nesting habitats for breeding colonies and aquatic biodiversity within Karnataka\u2019s river ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecosystem: Located near Vembanad Lake, the sanctuary supports around 180 bird species across Kerala\u2019s famous backwater ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Birds: Siberian cranes, flycatchers, teals, gulls, terns, herons and ducks visit the sanctuary during winter migration seasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tourism Attraction: Houseboat based birdwatching across Kerala backwaters makes Kumarakom internationally famous among eco tourists and ornithologists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biodiversity Importance: Wetland vegetation and aquatic habitats support fish diversity, migratory birds and ecological productivity in Kerala\u2019s coastal plains.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lagoon Ecosystem: Chilika is Asia\u2019s largest brackish water lagoon covering nearly 1,100 square kilometers along Odisha\u2019s eastern coastline.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Habitat: More than 160 bird species arrive from Siberia, Russia, Central Asia and Himalayas between November and February annually.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecological Diversity: The sanctuary also supports Irrawaddy dolphins, fishing cats, sea turtles, marshes, mudflats and island ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flamingo Habitat: Chilika hosts one of the world\u2019s largest congregations of flamingos and migratory waterbirds during winter seasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mangrove Habitat: Goa sanctuary preserves estuarine mangrove ecosystems along the Mandovi River supporting rich coastal bird biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avian Diversity: The sanctuary supports kingfishers, curlews, drongos, herons, egrets, cormorants, sandpipers and migratory shorebirds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientific Legacy: Named after ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali, the sanctuary reflects India\u2019s modern scientific bird conservation movement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eco tourism Value: Boat safaris through mangrove creeks provide important opportunities for ecological tourism and bird observation activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>First Bird Sanctuary in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the First Bird Sanctuary in India. It was established in 1936 in Tamil Nadu, Vedanthangal is India\u2019s first officially recognized bird sanctuary covering nearly 30 hectares of wetland habitat.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historical Background: During the eighteenth century, the area served as a hunting ground before local conservation efforts gradually transformed it into a protected wetland reserve.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migratory Importance: The sanctuary attracts thousands of migratory birds annually from Siberia, Europe and Central Asia including pelicans, ibis, herons, spoonbills and pintails.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecological Uniqueness: Birds nest on submerged trees within shallow water ecosystems, creating dense breeding colonies supporting long term avian population sustainability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conservation: Vedanthangal became a model for later wetland conservation policies and influenced establishment of bird sanctuaries across India\u2019s major ecological regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Largest Bird Sanctuaries in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The extensive Bird Sanctuaries in India protect extensive wetland and grassland ecosystems supporting thousands of migratory and resident avian species annually. However there is no officially recognised Largest Bird Sanctuary in India, the widely considered largest sanctuaries include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan is widely recognized as India\u2019s largest and most important bird sanctuary with over 370 bird species recorded.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary: Odisha\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/chilika-lake\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Chilika wetland<\/strong><\/a> covers nearly 1,100 square kilometers, making it India\u2019s largest brackish water bird habitat and migratory waterfowl destination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary: Spread across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Pulicat Lake sanctuary covers nearly 759 square kilometers around India\u2019s second largest brackish <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/lagoon-formation\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>lagoon<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary: Gujarat\u2019s largest wetland bird sanctuary spreads across 120.82 square kilometers and supports extensive migratory bird populations during winter seasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Famous bird sanctuaries in India protect migratory birds, Ramsar wetlands, rich biodiversity hotspots and major eco tourism destinations across India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":103583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[7567,4935,5102],"class_list":{"0":"post-103710","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-bird-sanctuaries-in-india","9":"tag-geography","10":"tag-geography-notes","11":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103710"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103760,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103710\/revisions\/103760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}