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The Kazhuveli wetland located near Villupuram in Tamil Nadu has been declared a bird sanctuary by the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, and will henceforth be called the ‘Kazhuveli Birds Sanctuary’.
About Kazhuveli Birds Sanctuary
- The ecologically important Kazhuveli wetlands in Villupuram district is the 16th bird sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
- Kazhuveli is a wetland of international importance on the East Coast and the declaration has come as a shot in the arm for the Forest Department’s initiatives to protect and develop its surrounding environment.
- The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli Creek and the Edayanthittu estuary and is visited for nesting by migratory birds on the Central Asian flyway.
- The place is home to a diverse species of flora and fauna and is a feeding ground for long-distance migrants from the cold subarctic regions of Central Asia and Siberia including Black-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Curlew, White Stork and Ruff.
- Kazhuveli is a very important coastal wetland for breeding waterfowl such as pelicans and herons but also for migrating and wintering waders and ducks.
Credit: KUMAR SS - The Kazhuveli wetlands is said to be the second largest brackish water lake in South India after Pulicat lake.
- In exercise of the powers conferred in the subsection (1) of the section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby declares his intention to constitute the said area as Kazhuveli Wetlands Birds Sanctuary
- The sanctuary lies adjacent to the Bay of Bengal along the east coast.
- Kazhuveli is the second largest brackish water lake in South India located in Tindivanam taluk of Villupuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu.
- Kazhuveli is an old mangrove forest, which has been degraded over period of time.
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