Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary
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Overview
Koonthankulam is a village bird sanctuary in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, set around rain-fed irrigation tanks.
Each season thousands of storks, pelicans, ibises and herons nest in trees in the village and around the tanks. The villagers protect the nests as part of a long tradition.
It was designated a Ramsar site in 2021 and is among the largest reserves for breeding waterbirds in South India.
Geography and key facts
- Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu
- Village-protected breeding colonies
- Pelicans, storks, ibises
- Ramsar site (2021)
Why it matters for UPSC
Community conservation examples like Koonthankulam and Khichan are useful in GS-3 answers.
Note for UPSC
Ramsar site (wetland of international importance), Tamil Nadu.
Ramsar sites come up as wetland–state pairs and in questions on conservation status.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary yet.
Key facts
- Type
- Ramsar site
- State / UT
- Tamil Nadu
- Coordinates
- 8.581°N, 77.761°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Forests, Wetlands, Mangroves and Coral Reefs (map lesson)