As the winter months bring the much-anticipated return of flamingos to the Mumbai region, environmentalists have expressed concern over the noticeably lower numbers of the migratory birds. The flocks, once seen in their hundreds of thousands, have drastically reduced in recent years, with just a few dozen flamingos observed at the Vashi and TS Chanakya wetlands in Nerul over the past few days.
B N Kumar, Director of the NatConnect Foundation, reported the initial sightings, explaining that while the numbers are expected to increase over the next month, the decrease compared to previous seasons is troubling. “Only about two dozen flamingos have been spotted so far. Historically, these birds arrive in large numbers from October to November and remain until June, but this year’s count is considerably lower,” he noted. Historically, the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), which is a Ramsar site, has been a prime destination for flamingos, attracting up to 4.5 lakh birds just five years ago. However, recent statistics from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) paint a worrying picture, with numbers dropping to around 1.3 lakh in 2022.
Environmentalists are concerned about the ongoing degradation of crucial wetland habitats in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which has contributed significantly to the decline in flamingo numbers. According to Nandakumar Pawar, head of the environmental group Sagar Shakti, the Thane Creek is increasingly polluted with industrial and urban effluents. Despite repeated complaints, the authorities have failed to take adequate action, further threatening the delicate ecosystem that supports these migratory birds.
The situation in Navi Mumbai’s six wetlands is particularly dire. Three of these — Belpada, Bhendkhal, and Panje in Uran — have been destroyed due to landfill activities and the obstruction of natural water flow. Other wetlands, such as the NRI wetland and DPS Flamingo Lake, suffer from stagnant, polluted water, making them inhospitable for flamingos. Environmentalists have raised alarms over the deteriorating conditions, claiming that these wetlands are no longer the safe havens they once were for the birds. The crisis has been exacerbated by the tragic deaths of flamingos who have wandered onto main roads in search of food, likely as a result of dried-up wetlands. The DPS Flamingo Lake, in particular, has been affected by the blockage of intertidal water flow, a situation worsened by vested interests. “Navi Mumbai has earned the nickname of Flamingo City, but this identity is now at serious risk,” Kumar concluded.
