21 May 2022

Introduction:

The Nanjarayan Tank is recently declared the 17th bird sanctuary of Tamil Nadu.

About the Nanjarayan Tank :

• Nanjarayan Tank is located on the outskirts of Tirupur city around 60 kilometers from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
• It was built by King Nanjarayan as a source for irrigation. It is also known as Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir.

About the Fauna:

• The undisturbed mudflats (sediment deposits) in the middle of the lake ensure a thriving ecosystem and also attract many birds.
• Pelicans, painted storks, coots, etc can be found here.  It is also a haven for migratory birds. In 2010, four bar-headed geese, one of the world’s highest-flying birds from Europe were spotted in the tank.
•  A flock of 14 ruddy shelducks that breed in parts of Europe and Central Asia was spotted in 2020.

 Threats to birds here:

• The habitat of birds is getting destroyed.
• The mudflats were damaged due to the de-silting work in 2015 done by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Tamil Nadu government.
• Water pollution is also a major issue, as effluents from nearby dyeing units are released into the lake.
• Declaring the tank as a bird sanctuary may restore the habitat of birds. A conservation center, watchtowers, and butterfly garden are being planned.