Sultanpur, Bhindawas wetlands near Delhi get Ramsar tag

Source: TOI

What is the News?

Two wetlands of Haryana — Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary — have been included in the Ramsar list. With this, the number of protected Ramsar sites in India has now gone up to 46.

About Sultanpur National Park:

• Sultanpur National Park is situated in the Gurgaon district of Haryana. The park is spread across 353 acres.
• The park is an important wetland that harbours rich plant and animal life. It supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles. 
• More than ten of these are globally threatened, including the critically endangered sociable lapwing.

About Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Jhajjar district of Haryana. In 2009, it was declared as a bird sanctuary by the Indian Government.
• The sanctuary is an important part of the ecological corridor along the route of Sahibi River which traverses from Aravalli hills in Rajasthan to the Yamuna. The sanctuary is located just 1.5 km from Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary is an important wetland that provides a safe habitat to numerous animals and plants.
• A total of 265 species of birds have been reported from the site. More than 30,000 migratory birds belonging to over 250 species visit Bhindawas throughout the year.