Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand
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Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand in Gujarat were both declared Ramsar Sites in January 2026, giving them international recognition as wetlands of global importance. Patna is the smallest bird sanctuary in UP, while Chhari-Dhand is a vast saline wetland in Kutch, Gujarat.
Patna Bird Sanctuary (Etah, Uttar Pradesh)
- Location: Jalesar, Etah district, ~45 km from Etah city.
- Size: ~108 hectares (smallest bird sanctuary in UP).
- Habitat: A shallow rain-fed lake surrounded by forest land, which fills during monsoon and attracts migratory birds in winter.
- Birdlife:
- Over 178 bird species recorded.
- Storks, Cranes, Rosy Pelicans, Bar-headed Geese, Wild Ducks, Spot-billed Ducks, Cotton Teal, Lesser Whistling Duck.
- Seasonal population can reach 200,000 birds.
- Flora: ~252 plant species documented.
- Special Recognition: Declared a Ramsar Site on 31 January 2026, making it the 11th Ramsar wetland in Uttar Pradesh.
Chhari-Dhand Bird Sanctuary (Kutch, Gujarat)
- Location: Edge of Banni grasslands and salt flats of the Rann of Kutch, near Bhuj.
- Meaning: “Chhari” = saline, “Dhand” = shallow lake.
- Habitat: Seasonal wetland formed in a saucer-shaped depression, between desert and grassland ecosystems.
- Birdlife:
- More than 250 bird species recorded.
- Important stopover for migratory waterfowl, raptors, and waders.
- Known for flamingos, cranes, pelicans, and raptors.
- Special Recognition: Declared a Ramsar Site on 31 January 2026, becoming Gujarat’s 5th Ramsar site (after Nal Sarovar, Thol, Khijadiya, and Wadhwana) and the first in Kutch.
Significance
- Both sanctuaries highlight India’s growing Ramsar network (expanded from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 by 2026).
- Recognition ensures global conservation support, eco-tourism potential, and protection of migratory bird habitats.
- Patna represents compact biodiversity richness, while Chhari-Dhand showcases large-scale wetland ecosystems.
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