Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary
Why in News?
The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary has been designated as India's 100th Ramsar Site, hitting a historic "century" milestone in wetland conservation. The announcement was officially made on World Environment Day (5 June 2026) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Location and Geography
- Alternate Name: It is widely and locally known as Surha Tal (or Suraha Tal Lake).
- District: Situated in the Ballia district of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- Origin: It is a large, natural, perennial oxbow lake (meander lake) formed by the shifting movements of the Ganga River.
- River Basin: Located near the dynamic confluence of the Ganga and Ghaghara river systems.
- Hydrological Link: Connected to the Ganga via the 32.6 km long Katehar nullah, which drains and fills the lake depending on river levels.
Area and Submersion
- Base Area: The sanctuary officially spreads over an area of 34.32 square kilometers.
- Lake Expansion: The core lake spans about 26 km² but swells to 33.4 km² during monsoon season.
- Surrounding Submersion: During heavy rains, a vast peripheral area of up to 25,000 hectares gets submerged, naturally expanding the avifaunal habitat.
History and Governance
- Establishment: Originally notified and declared a bird sanctuary by the Uttar Pradesh government in 1991.
- Renaming: Officially renamed the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary in 2002 to honour the legendary freedom fighter and political leader.
- Land Composition: It is unique because it encompasses a mix of private lands, government lands (Gram Samaj), and active paddy fields.
Rich Biodiversity & Avifauna
- Global Classification: Recognized globally as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).
- Migratory Hub: Serves as a vital stopover and wintering ground for birds traveling from Central Asia along the Indian subcontinent flyway.
- Bird Population: Hosts around 10,000 resident birds across the year, which spikes to over 200,000 birds during peak winter months.
- Key Bird Species: Known for congregations of the Bar-headed goose, Greylag goose, Pintailed duck, Cotton teal, and Ruddy shelduck.
- Threatened Wildlife: Provides critical habitat for vulnerable and endangered species like the Pallas's fish-eagle and the Indian skimmer.
- Aquatic Fauna: Supports a thriving ecosystem of more than 30 distinct fish species, reptiles, and diverse aquatic vegetation.
Local Community & Livelihood
- Sustenance Hub: Over 45 surrounding villages directly depend on the wetland for their daily survival.
- Economic Activities: The local population primarily utilizes the wetland's rich water resources for fishing and agricultural operations (like paddy cultivation).
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