{"id":99865,"date":"2026-04-23T13:47:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T08:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=99865"},"modified":"2026-04-23T13:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T08:17:38","slug":"shekha-jheel-bird-sanctuary-as-indias-99th-ramsar-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/shekha-jheel-bird-sanctuary-as-indias-99th-ramsar-site\/","title":{"rendered":"Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary as India\u2019s 99th Ramsar Site"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has achieved another significant milestone in wetland conservation with the inclusion of <\/span><b>Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as its 99th Ramsar Site in April 2026. This recognition highlights India\u2019s growing commitment to preserving ecologically important wetlands and strengthening biodiversity conservation under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary is a freshwater wetland in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, recently recognized as India\u2019s 99th Ramsar Site in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Location:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Situated around 15-17 km from Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wetland Type:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Freshwater perennial jheel connected to the Upper Ganga Canal system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ramsar Status:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Declared as India\u2019s 99th Ramsar Site in April 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Biodiversity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Supports over 200+ bird species, including many migratory birds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Flyway Importance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Lies on the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/caf\/\" target=\"_blank\">Central Asian Flyway<\/a><\/strong>, a major migratory route<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Key Bird Species:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bar-headed goose, painted stork, northern pintail, and other waterfowl<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other Fauna:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Nilgai, blackbuck, reptiles, and small mammals found in surrounding areas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ecological Role:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Helps in groundwater recharge, flood control, and maintaining ecological balance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Ramsar Sites Added in 2025<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The year 2025 marked a major boost to India\u2019s wetland conservation efforts with the addition of 11 new Ramsar Sites across multiple states. These wetlands are ecologically significant as they support biodiversity, migratory birds, and sustainable livelihoods.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 75.5755%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 99.2995%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"5\"><b>Ramsar Sites Added in 2025<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><b>S.No<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><b>Ramsar Site<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><b>State\/UT<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><b>Year<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><b>Significance<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important habitat for migratory waterbirds; supports breeding and nesting of several avian species<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therthangal Bird Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key stopover on Central Asian Flyway; rich in aquatic bird diversity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khecheopalri Wetland<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sikkim<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sacred wetland with high cultural value; supports rare flora and fauna<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Udhwa Lake<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jharkhand<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only bird sanctuary in the state; crucial wintering ground for migratory birds<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khichan (Phalodi)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rajasthan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Famous for Demoiselle cranes; strong example of community-led conservation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Menar (Udaipur)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rajasthan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Known as \u201cBird Village\u201d; supports large populations of migratory birds like flamingos<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gokul Jalashay<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bihar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides habitat for diverse aquatic species and supports local irrigation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Udaipur Jheel<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bihar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rich wetland biodiversity; important for fishery and bird conservation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/gogabeel-lake\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gogabeel Lake<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bihar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of Bihar\u2019s largest oxbow lakes; hotspot for migratory birds<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/siliserh-lake\/\" target=\"_blank\">Siliserh Lake<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rajasthan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supports birdlife and acts as a freshwater reservoir aiding water conservation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.67776%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9142%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kopra Jalashay<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 10.253%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chhattisgarh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.52278%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 58.9317%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important inland wetland supporting aquatic biodiversity and local livelihoods<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><b>Ramsar Sites Added in 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2026, India further strengthened its wetland conservation network by adding 3 new Ramsar Sites, taking the total to 99. These sites represent diverse ecosystems ranging from freshwater bird habitats to unique desert wetlands.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 89.8992%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"text-align: center; width: 99.3348%;\" colspan=\"5\"><b>Ramsar Sites Added in 2026<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.10421%;\">\n<p><b>S.No<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2033%;\">\n<p><b>Ramsar Site<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.05617%;\">\n<p><b>State\/UT<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.98226%;\">\n<p><b>Year<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.9889%;\">\n<p><b>Significance<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.10421%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2033%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patna Bird Sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.05617%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uttar Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.98226%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.9889%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA); supports migratory birds and wetland ecosystem services<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.10421%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2033%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chhari-Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.05617%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kutch, Gujarat<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.98226%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.9889%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unique desert wetland ecosystem; crucial habitat for migratory birds, including flamingos and cranes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.10421%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2033%;\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/shekha-jheel-bird-sanctuary\/\" target=\"_blank\">Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.05617%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uttar Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.98226%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 54.9889%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freshwater wetland on Central Asian Flyway; supports rich avifauna, groundwater recharge, and eco-tourism<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh is India\u2019s 99th Ramsar Site, known for migratory birds, rich biodiversity and vital wetland ecosystem services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":99846,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[6857,7076],"class_list":{"0":"post-99865","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-environment-and-ecology","9":"tag-shekha-jheel-bird-sanctuary-as-indias-99th-ramsar-site","10":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99865","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\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99865"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99868,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99865\/revisions\/99868"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}