News Ramsar Sites - Patna Bird Sanctuary In Uttar Pradesh And Chhari-Dhand In Gujarat |ForumIAS

News: Recently, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the addition of two new wetlands to India’s Ramsar network.

About Patna Bird Sanctuary

Location: It is the smallest bird sanctuary located in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh.
Founded in: 1991
Size: It is the smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, with a wetland area of only 1 sq. km.
The Sanctuary encompasses a lentic lake that is an important wintering ground for migrating birds.
Flora: It includes trees such as date palm, Prosopis, peepal, fig, babul, ber, jungle jalebi, mulberry, shisham, and neem.
- The lake also has many water plants like Hydrilla, Salvinia, Azolla, Potamogeton, and water hyacinth.
Fauna: Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Indian Fox, Common Palm Civet, Indian Bush Rat, Rufous-tailed Hare, and young Nilgai are found here.
- The important aquatic birds inhabiting lake are Lesser Whistling-Duck, Graylag Goose, Comb Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler and Northern Pintail.

It is the first Conservation Reserve of Gujarat.
Location: This protected wetland conservation reserve is located on the edge of the arid Banni grasslands and the marshy salt flats of the Rann of Kutch.
Area: It covers an area of 80 sq. km.
In the local Kutchi language, Chhari means “salty” and Dhand means “shallow wetlands”.
The seasonal desert wetland gets swampy during the monsoon season and is fed by north-flowing rivers and surrounding hills.
Fauna: It serves as a primary stopover for birds entering the Indian subcontinent via the western route.
- It is home to endangered species such as Dalmatian Pelican, Oriental Darter, Black-necked Stork, and Indian Skimmer and other bird species such as flamingos, Common cranes, Painted storks, Raptors, and Spoonbills.
- Chinkara, wolves, caracal, desert cats, and desert foxes are also found here.