Spoonbill storks, grey herons and painted storks seen during a birdwatching event conducted at Meenakshipuram tank at Ammapatti in Bodi taluk recently.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Centre for Heritage and Ecological Research through Arts and Literature (Cheral), Madurai, has urged the State government to declare Meenakshipuram tank at Ammapatti panchayat in Bodinayakanur taluk in Theni district either a bird sanctuary or a community reserve.Cheral, in a press release, said Meenakshipuram tank served as an important habitat and roosting site for resident and migratory birds, and urged the Forest Department to notify the tank as a community reserve under Section 36C of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.Such protection would not only conserve the wetland’s rich biodiversity but also promote eco-tourism. It would attract researchers, birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, tourists and travellers, and strengthen the local economy.Informational signboards highlighting the biodiversity of the tank should be installed at suitable locations. School and college students should be encouraged to visit the tank to learn about wetland biodiversity. Such initiatives would strengthen environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation, the release said.Cheral said it recently organised a birdwatching event at Meenakshipuram tank and its research team conducted a survey. The team had documented around 56 species of birds, five of which were globally threatened or near-threatened species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.At any given time, nearly 2,000 birds could be seen foraging in the wetland. Systematic surveys conducted across different seasons could potentially record more than 150 bird species there. Protecting the habitats of these threatened species was the responsibility of the government, the release said.Cheral said solid and liquid wastes from towns and villages entered the tank through a branch canal. As a result, the water and the ecological health of the tank had deteriorated, affecting agriculture, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of people who were depending on it.Cheral urged the authorities to take appropriate steps in this regard and prevent the discharge of waste into the tank.The tank should be desilted carefully so that it could be a suitable habitat for birds. The excavated soil should be used to create an artificial island without reducing the tank’s storage capacity. Native tree species should be planted on the island to provide safe nesting and roosting sites for birds, the release said. Published - August 06, 2026 09:47 pm IST
