Indian Skimmers

About Indian Skimmers

• Recently around 250 Indian Skimmers were sighted in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in a day during the Asian Waterbird Census-2023.
• It is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.
• It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.
• About 20% of the total population of fewer than 2,500 birds nest along river Chambal.
• Protection status

 

IUCN: Endangered

Key facts about the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary situated in Andhra Pradesh.
• Between this sanctuary area and the sea Hope Island blocks the direct confluence of the sea and Godavari. As a result, about 40% of the sanctuary is only sea backwaters and the rest of the area is intermingled with creeks and gets inundated with tidal waters.
• Flora: It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forests. It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forests in India.
• Fauna: It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long-billed vulture.
• Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become prime habitat for Indian Skimmers, says the expert.

 

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Source: Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become prime habitat for Indian Skimmers, says the expert.