Greater flamingo
( UPSC Prelims)
News Context
Tamil Nadu has declared the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi to protect a vital stopover along the Central Asian Flyway.
Habitat:
○ Breeds in shallow wetlands that are either saline or alkaline.
○ Found in Africa, western Asia (including India), and southern Europe.
The Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) in Gujarat is a distinctive Protected Area. It is the only breeding ground for Greater Flamingos in South Asia, famously known as "Flamingo City".
Characteristics:
○ Exhibits great dispersal capacity outside the breeding season and is highly philopatric, meaning they return to or remain near a specific site or area.