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{{Short description|Protected area in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox protected area
| name                           = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
| name = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
| native_name                    =  
| iucn_category = IV
| native_name_lang                =
| map = India Tamil Nadu#India
| other_name                      =
| map_caption = Location in Map of [[Tamil Nadu]]
| nickname                        =
| relief = 1
| settlement_type                = nature reserving sanctuary
| mapframe = Yes
| image_skyline                  = Vedanthangal Lake.JPG
| image = {{Photomontage
| image_alt                      =
| photo1a = Vedanthangal Lake.JPG
| image_caption                  = View of Vedanthangal Lake
| photo2a = In a Land of their own Vedanthangal.jpg
| pushpin_map                    = India Tamil Nadu
| photo2b = Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Watch Tower.jpg
| pushpin_label_position          = left
| photo3a = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary pathway.JPG
| pushpin_map_alt                =
| photo3b = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary - Evening.JPG
| pushpin_map_caption            = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| foot_montage = '''Clockwise from top''': A view of the sanctuary; Watch tower in the sanctuary; Resting [[pelicans]]; Walkway inside the sanctuary; ''[[Barringtonia]]'' trees in the lake
| coordinates                    = {{coord|12|32|44|N|79|51|21|E|display=inline,title}}
| size = 250
| subdivision_type                = Country
| position = center
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1              = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1              = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2              = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2              = Chengalpattu
| established_title              = Established
| established_date                = 1936
| founder                        =  
| named_for                      =  
| government_type                =  
| governing_body                  =  
| unit_pref                      = Metric
| area_footnotes                  =
| area_rank                      = 323
| area_total_km2                  = 0.3
| elevation_footnotes            =
| elevation_m                    =
| population_total                =
| population_as_of                =
| population_rank                =
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_demonym              =
| population_footnotes            = 232
| demographics_type1              = Languages
| demographics1_title1            = Official
| demographics1_info1            = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| timezone1                      = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1                    = +5:30
| postal_code_type                = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code                    = 236
| registration_plate              =
| blank1_name_sec1                = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1                = [[Chennai]]
| blank2_name_sec1                = Governing body
| blank2_info_sec1                = [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]], [[Government of India]]
| website                        =
| footnotes                      =  
| official_name                  =  
}}
}}
'''Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary''' is a {{convert|30|ha|adj=on}} protected area located in the [[Madurantakam]] taluk of the  [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu District]] in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The sanctuary is about {{Convert|75|km}} from [[Chennai]] on National Highway&nbsp;45 ([NH45]).  It is easily reachable from [[Madurantakam]] and Chengalpattu.  More than 40,000 birds (including 26 rare species), from various parts of the world visit the sanctuary during the migratory season every year.<ref name="2013season"/>
| image_alt =
 
| location = [[Chengalpattu district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
Vedanthangal is home to migratory birds such as [[northern pintail|pintail]], [[garganey]], [[grey wagtail]], [[blue-winged teal]], [[common sandpiper]] and the like.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/VedanthangalByM.Krishnan/KrishnanVed#page/n9/mode/2up Vedanthangal - M.Krishnan pg.9]</ref>
| coordinates = {{coord|12|32|44|N|79|51|21|E|display=inline,title}}
 
| area_ha = 30
Vedanthangal is the oldest water bird sanctuary in the country.<ref name="2013season">{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/bird-sanctuaries-to-open-on-friday/article5361511.ece| location=Chennai | work=The Hindu | first= Madhavan | last= D | title= Bird sanctuaries to open on Friday | date=2013-11-18}}</ref><ref name="WildlifeBiodiversityConservation">{{cite book|last1=VenkatramanG|last2=Thiyagesan K|last3=Nagarajan R|author4=Jyothinayakam, J.T.|title=Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation: Proceedings of the "National Seminar on Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation", 13 to 15 October, 2006, a Seminar Conducted During the "bi-decennial Celebrations" of Pondicherry University|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vlx-ho5EvyoC&pg=PA93|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Daya Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7035-529-8|pages=93–}}</ref> Vedanthangal in Tamil language means 'hamlet of the hunter'.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.13:1:9017.tamillex University of Chennai - Tamil Lexicon]</ref> This area was a favourite hunting spot of the local landlords in the early 18th century. The region attracted a variety of birds because it was dotted with small lakes that acted as feeding grounds for the birds. Realising its ornithological importance, the British government undertook steps to develop Vedanthangal into a bird sanctuary as early as 1798. This was established in 1858 by the order of the Collector of Chengalpattu.
| established = 1936
 
| governing_body = [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]], [[Government of India]]
[[File:Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary pathway.JPG|thumb|180px|The pathway in Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.]]
| nearest_city = [[Kanchipuram]]
The best time to visit this sanctuary is from November to March. During this time, birds are seen busy building and maintaining their nests.
| elevation = {{cvt|122|m}}<ref name="Ramsar"/>
 
| module = {{Designation list
Villagers near this sanctuary are very concerned about the sanctuary and its winged residents, and they have taken many serious steps to avoid disturbance to the flow of birds.
| embed = yes
 
| designation1 = Ramsar
==History==
| designation1_offname = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
 
| designation1_date = 8 April 2022
[[File:Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.jpg|thumb|left|Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.]]
| designation1_number = 2477<ref name="Ramsar">{{cite web|title=Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary|work=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]]|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/IN2477RIS_2208_en.pdf|access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>}}
[[File:Vedanthangal Landscape.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Vedanthangal Landscape]]
[[File:In a Land of their own Vedanthangal.jpg|thumb|right|180px|In a world of their own, Vedanthankal]]
The Vedanthangal lake bird sanctuary has a tradition of the people actively protecting birds coming to the area since time immemorial. The local people understood the relationship between birds and the productivity of their crops even before the concept of wildlife conservation came into vogue. They knew that the bird droppings in the water created guano which acted as fertilizer. Towards the end of the 18th century local villagers complained to the collector of [[Chengalpet Lionel Palace]], about the British soldiers shooting the birds. They demanded and obtained a '[[Cowle]]' from the collector (Mr Place, Collector of Chingleput 1796-1798<ref>{{cite book|author=Bates, RSP|year=1931|title=Birdlife in India|publisher=Bombay Natural History Society|url=https://archive.org/stream/BirdLifeIndia/BirdlifeIndia#page/n50/mode/1up}}</ref>) to protect the birds. In 1936 the collector officially recognized the lake as a sanctuary. In 1962 it was given the legal status of reserved forest under the [[Madras Forest Act]].
 
Several accounts of the sanctuary were published in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Shortt, John|year=1866|title=Account of a heronry, and breeding-place of other water-birds, in southern India|journal=Zoologist|volume=1|pages=11–16|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoologist24lond#page/11/mode/1up/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Hume, AO|title=The nests and eggs of Indian Birds. Volume 3|pages=238–239|url=https://archive.org/stream/nestseggsofindia03humerich#page/237/mode/1up|year=1889|publisher=R H Porter}}</ref> In 1936, the park was notified as a [[sanctuary]], and in 1962, the Madras Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to Vedanthangal. Ten years later, the place was declared as a [[wildlife]] sanctuary.
 
In 1967, a rest house was constructed for the convenience of visiting inspecting officers and tourists.  In the government order dated 8 July 1988, the area was declared as the 'Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary', under the [[Wildlife Protection Act of 1972]].
 
The area had a compact grove of more than 500 ''[[Barringtonia]]'' trees earlier.  An additional 100&nbsp;trees were planted in 1973 and over 1,000&nbsp;trees were planted in 1996.
 
==Bird species==
[[File:Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Watch Tower.jpg|thumb|left|Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Watch Tower.]]
 
The Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary features thousands of birds coming from various countries, some of which can be easily identified. Some easily found birds include [[cormorant]]s, [[darter]]s, [[grebe]]s, [[large egret]]s, [[little egret]]s, [[moorhen]]s, [[night heron]]s, paddy birds, [[painted stork]]s, [[Northern pintail|pintails]], [[pond heron]]s, [[sandpiper]]s, [[shoveller]]s, [[tern]]s, [[Black-headed ibis|white ibis]]es and many more. The migratory birds include [[garganey]]s and [[Blue-winged teal|teals]] from [[Canada]]; [[snake bird]]s and [[glossy ibis]]es from [[Sri Lanka]]; [[grey pelican]]s from [[Australia]]; [[grey heron]]s and [[Asian openbill|openbilled stork]] from [[Bangladesh]]; [[painted stork]]s from [[Siberia]]; [[spoonbill]]s from [[Burma]] and the [[Indian spot-billed duck]]. It is a good tourist spot.
 
{{multiple image
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| header    =
| header_align =
| header_background =
| footer  = Vedanthangal birds during season
| footer_align = center <!-- left/right/center -->
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| image1    = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary - Evening.JPG
| width1    = 200
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| image2    = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary at season.JPG
| width2    = 200
| alt2      =
| image3    = Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg
| width3    = 210
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| image4    = Painted Stork at Vedanthangal, Chennai.jpg
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}}
'''Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary''' is a [[bird sanctuary]] in the [[Madurantakam taluk]] of the [[Chengalpattu district]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Established in 1936, it is the oldest [[List of wildlife sanctuaries of India|wildlife sanctuary in India]]. It has been designated as a protected [[Ramsar site]] since 2022. More than 40,000 birds have been recorded in the sanctuary during the migratory season every year.


==Location==
== History ==
[[File:Vedanthangal bird sanctuary entrance.jpg|thumb|180px|Entrance]]
The Vedanthangal freshwater lake attracts water birds, and the area was protected by the local people, who benefited from the
[[File:Vedanthangal Stork Breeding.jpg|thumb|180px|Pelicans nesting and breeding]]
manure-rich water from the lake. The [[guano]] of the birds increased the agriculture yield of the surrounding fields.<ref name="Ramsar"/> The area was later used as hunting grounds for [[sport hunting]] of birds by the rich in the early 17th century.<ref name="Compendium">{{cite report|url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-04/9%20Compendium%20Book_2021_Low%20%281%29%20%282%29.pdf|title=National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India|work=[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]], [[Government of India]]|date=November 2021|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> Vedanthangal literally means the 'hamlet of the hunter' in [[Tamil language]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.13:1:9017.tamillex|title=Tamil Lexicon|work=[[University of Madras]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> Towards the end of the 18th century, locals complained to the [[District Collector]] of [[Chingleput district]] about the British soldiers shooting the birds and obtained a cowle (a written acceptance) from the collector to protect the birds.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bates, RSP|year=1931|title=Birdlife in India|publisher=[[Bombay Natural History Society]]|url=https://archive.org/stream/BirdLifeIndia/BirdlifeIndia#page/n50/mode/1up}}</ref> Due to its ecological importance, the [[British Raj|British Government]] initiated further steps to develop it into a bird sanctuary in 1798. Several accounts of the area being a breeding place for birds were published in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Shortt, John|year=1866|title=Account of a heronry, and breeding-place of other water-birds, in southern India|journal=Zoologist|volume=1|pages=11–16|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoologist24lond#page/11/mode/1up/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Hume, AO|title=The nests and eggs of Indian Birds. Volume 3|pages=238–239|url=https://archive.org/stream/nestseggsofindia03humerich#page/237/mode/1up|year=1889|publisher=R H Porter}}</ref>


==The Lake==
In the mid 19th century, the collector of Chingleput ordered it to be established as a protected area.<ref name="Compendium"/> It was officially declared as a [[wildlife sanctuary]] in 1936 and was the first such protected area to be established within the Indian boundaries.<ref name="Compendium"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Bio-Diversity and Wild Life in Tamil Nadu|url=http://tnenvis.nic.in/Database/SoilResources_1171.aspx|work=[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]], [[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410055618/http://tnenvis.nic.in/Database/SoilResources_1171.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The surrounding wetland was declared as reserve area as per the [[Madras Forest Act, 1882]] on 4 June 1962. Subsequently, the surrounding {{cvt|5|km}} zone were declared as part of the sanctuary as per the [[Wildlife Protection Act, 1972]] in 1996 and the final notification was issued on 8 July 1998.<ref name="Ramsar"/>
The Vedanthangal lake is situated 122&nbsp;m above sea level. It supplies water to 250 acres of agricultural land around the area. The west and south sides of the lake are bordered by a long bund, whereas the northern and eastern sides extend to the agricultural lands. Input of water into this lake is through four small canals. Maximum depth of the lake is 5&nbsp;metres. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1400&nbsp;mm, mostly from the [[north-east monsoon]].<ref name = "WildlifeBiodiversityConservation"/> There is a {{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}} observation tower in the sanctuary.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=47}}</ref>


==Flora and fauna==
== Description ==
[[File:Pelican flight.jpg|thumb|Pelican flight]]
The sanctuary occupies an area of {{cvt|74|acre}} and is one of the smallest [[List of wildlife sanctuaries of India|wildlife sanctuaries in India]].<ref name="Compendium"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wii.gov.in/eia/wildlife_database/tamil_nadu|title=Tamil Nadu|work=[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]], [[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> The sanctuary consists of many small water bodies interconnected with the main tank, located at an altitude of about {{cvt|122|m}}.<ref name="Ramsar"/> The maximum depth of the lake is {{cvt|5|m}} and it supplies water to nearly 250 acres of agricultural land in the region. The west and south sides of the lake are bordered by a long bund, whereas the northern and eastern sides extend to the agricultural lands. The area receives an average annual rainfall of {{cvt|140|cm}}, mostly from the [[north-east monsoon]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Venkatraman G|last2=Thiyagesan K|last3=Nagarajan R|author4=Jyothinayakam, J.T.|title=Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vlx-ho5EvyoC&pg=PA93|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Daya Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7035-529-8|page=93}}</ref> There is a {{cvt|24|ft}} observation tower in the sanctuary.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=47}}</ref> In 2013, the lake was de-silted and new water channels were built by the [[Public Works Department]] to facilitate water supply to the lake from neighbouring water bodies.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/bird-sanctuaries-to-open-on-friday/article5361511.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|title= Bird sanctuaries to open on Friday|date=18 November 2013|access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref>
'''Flora:''' ''[[Barringtonia acutangula]]'', ''[[Acacia nilotica]],'' and ''Alangium salviflorum'' trees and dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests.


'''Fauna:''' monkeys and other common mammals can be spotted.
== Flora ==
The sanctuary consists of a mixture of [[tropical evergreen forest|tropical and sub-tropical]] dry [[broadleaf forest]]s interspersed with thorns and shrubs.<ref name="Ramsar"/><ref name="Compendium"/> The wetland and the surrounding areas have been subject to [[deforestation]] and over [[grazing]] from domestic livestock, which resulted in the stunted scrub vegetation. There are two distinct types of vegetation in the sanctuary. The water area mainly consists of ''[[Barringtonia acutangula]]'' and ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'' trees, most of which were planted by the [[Tamil Nadu Forest Department]] and are the main nest-supporting trees. The ''Barringtonia'' trees also serve as roosts for the non-breeding birds and safe high perches for the young lings.<ref name="Ramsar"/> In 2013, a further two lakh ''Barringtonia'' saplings were planted in the sanctuary.<ref name="Hindu"/>


'''Birds:''' garganey, teal, glossy ibis, grey heron, grey pelican, open-billed stork, painted stork, snake bird, spoonbill, spot bill duck, cormorants, darter, grebes, large egret, little egrets, moorhen, night herons, paddy bird, painted stork, pintails, pond heron, sandpiper, shovellers, terns, white ibis. They migrate from Europe during November and December to escape the frost that sets in.
The periphery of the tank and the tank bund consists of a number of ''[[Terminalia arjuna]]'' trees. The tank bund also consists of  ''[[Streblus]]'' and ''[[Calamus (palm)|Calamus]]'' trees. There are other species such as ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'', ''[[Alangium salviifolium]]'', ''[[Albizzia lebbek]]'', ''[[Azadirachta indica]]'', ''[[Morinda tinctoria]]'', ''[[Borassus flabellifer]]'', ''[[Cassia fistula]]'', and ''[[Solanum trilobatum]]'' on the area surrounding the tank. The partly submerged scrubs around the tank provide twigs for the birds to build nests and also serve as roosting grounds.<ref name="Ramsar"/>
{{Clear}}


{{Panorama
== Fauna ==
|image  = File:Panorama of Vedanthangal 1.jpg|
The unique ecosystem attracts a rich diversity of birds. Nearly 40000 birds are seen in the tank during the breeding season. When the nesting birds return with the young lings, there can be over 70000 birds in a good monsoon year.<ref name="Ramsar"/><ref name="Hindu"/> The prime nesting species seen in the sanctuary are [[spot billed pelican]], [[Asian Open-billed Stork|Asian open-billed stork]], [[painted stork]], [[Indian cormorant]], [[little cormorant]], [[black-crowned night heron]], [[little egret]], [[intermediate egret]], [[grey heron]], [[glossy ibis]], [[black-headed ibis]], [[Eurasian spoonbill]], and [[Indian pond heron]].<ref name="Ramsar"/><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Santharam, V.|author2=R. K. G. Menon|year=1991|url=https://archive.org/stream/NLBW31_1112#page/n8/mode/1up|title=Observations on the water-bird populations of the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary|journal=Newsletter for Birdwatchers|volume=31|page=6-8}}</ref> Migratory waterbirds [[wintering]] here include [[northern pintail]], [[garganey]], [[northern shoveller]], [[black-winged stilt]], and other shorebirds and [[terns]] such as [[whiskered tern]].<ref name="Ramsar"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/VedanthangalByM.Krishnan/KrishnanVed#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Vedanthangal|author=M. Krishnan|page=9}}</ref> [[Cattle egret]]s and [[little cormorant]]s are also seen outside the breeding season. Other terrestrial birds such as [[darter]]s, [[parakeet]]s, [[Sylvioidea|babbler]]s, [[myna]]s, [[Megalaimidae|barbet]]s, [[bee-eater]]s, [[kingfisher]]s, [[Coraciidae|roller]], [[cuckoo]], [[Old World oriole|oriole]], [[drongo]], and [[raptor (bird)|raptors]] such as [[black-winged kite]], [[brahminy kite]], [[short-toed eagle]], [[pariah kite]] have been observed in Vedanthangal. <ref name="Ramsar"/>
|height  = 480
|caption = Panoramic view of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
}}
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary


==List of birds==
Mammals seen in the sanctuary include [[Indian jackal]], [[jungle cat]], [[wild boar]], [[black-naped hare]], [[bonnet macaque]], [[mongoose]], [[mole rat]], [[palm civet]], [[flying fox]], and [[Indian fox]]. A large number of [[fruit bats]] are also present in the [[bamboo]] trees around the lake. There are also [[reptiles]] and [[amphibians]] such as [[Water snake (disambiguation)|water snakes]], [[Indian cobra]], [[sand boa]]s, [[terrapins]], [[tortoises]], [[lizards]], and [[frogs]].<ref name="Compendium"/><ref name="Ramsar"/>
The breeding waterbirds found at the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary are:<ref>Santharam, V. and R. K. G. Menon. 1991. [https://archive.org/stream/NLBW31_1112#page/n8/mode/1up Some observations on the water-bird populations of the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary].  Newsletter for Birdwatchers 31 (11-12): 6-8</ref>
* Grey Pelican ''[[Pelecanus philippensis]]''
* Large Cormorant ''[[Phalacrocorax carbo]]''
* Indian Shag ''[[Phalacrocorax fuscicollis]]''
* Little Cormorant ''[[Microcarbo niger]]''
* Darter ''[[Anhinga rufa]]''
* Grey Heron ''[[Ardea cinerea]]''
* Large Egret ''[[Ardea alba]]''
* Smaller (Median) Egret ''[[Egretta intermedia]]''
* Little Egret ''[[Egretta garzetta]]''
* Night Heron ''[[Nycticorax nycticorax]]''
* Openbilled Stork ''[[Anastomus oscitans]]''
* Black-headed Ibis ''[[Threskiornis melanocephalus]]''
* Spoonbill ''[[Platalea leucorodia]]''
<gallery>
File:Vedanthangal 4 birds.jpg|Grey pelican, painted stork, little egret and open-billed stork
File:Indian Pond Heron, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Indian pond heron
File:Black Headed Ibis, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Black headed ibis
File:Indian Golden Oriole, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Golden oriole
File:Asian openbill stork, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Openbilled stork
File:Male and female parakeet 1.jpg|Male and female parakeet
File:Spot billed duck after swim 1.jpg|Spot billed duck
File:Darter and Ibis on a race 1.jpg|Darter and ibis
File:Pond Heron and its reflection 1.jpg|Pond heron and its reflection
File:Egrets on a island 1.jpg|Egret landing on an island
</gallery>
 
==Conservation==
[[File:Green and Green.jpg|thumb|Green pathway]]
Several steps have been taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu to protect the area. Water channels have been built by the [[Public Works Department]] to facilitate water supply to the sanctuary from neighbouring lakes.<ref name ="2013season"/>
 
In 2013, two lakh Barringtonia saplings were planted in the sanctuary to allow birds to nest. The Vedanthangal lake was also desilted and deepened to hold more water.<ref name ="2013season"/>


== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary.jpg|Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary
File:Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Birds at the sanctuary
File:Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Entrance.jpg|Vedanthangal bird sanctuary Entrance
File:Vedanthangal 4 birds.jpg|[[Spot-billed pelican]], [[painted stork]], [[little egret]] and [[open-billed stork]]
File:Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary from Watch Tower.jpg|Full View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary from Watch Tower
File:Indian Pond Heron, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|[[Indian pond heron]]
File:Black Headed Ibis, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|[[Black-headed ibis]]
File:Indian Golden Oriole, Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|[[Golden oriole]]
File:Asian openbill stork, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.jpg|[[Open-billed stork]]
File:Vedanthangal Stork Breeding.jpg|[[Spot-billed pelican]]s
File:Male and female parakeet 1.jpg|[[Green parakeet]]
File:Spot billed duck after swim 1.jpg|[[Spot-billed duck]]
File:Darter and Ibis on a race 1.jpg|[[Darter]] and [[ibis]]
File:Pond Heron and its reflection 1.jpg|[[Pond heron]]
File:Egrets on a island 1.jpg|[[Eastern cattle egret]]
File:Painted Stork at Vedanthangal, Chennai.jpg|[[Painted stork]]
File:Pelican flight.jpg|[[Spot-billed pelican]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[List of birds of Tamil Nadu]]
* [[List of birds of South India]]
* [[List of birds of South India]]
* [[List of birds of Tamil Nadu]]
* [[List of wildlife sanctuaries of India]]


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary|position=left}}
{{Commons category|Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary|position=left}}


{{Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Eastern Ghats}}
{{Eastern Ghats}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]
[[Category:Coromandel Coast]]
[[Category:Eastern Ghats]]
[[Category:South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1936]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1936]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]

Latest revision as of 09:24, 25 February 2026


Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Location in Map of Tamil Nadu
Map showing the location of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (India)
LocationChengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest cityKanchipuram
Coordinates12°32′44″N 79°51′21″E / 12.54556°N 79.85583°E / 12.54556; 79.85583
Area30 ha (74 acres)
Elevation122 m (400 ft)[1]
Established1936
Governing bodyMinistry of Environment and Forests, Government of India

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary in the Madurantakam taluk of the Chengalpattu district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Established in 1936, it is the oldest wildlife sanctuary in India. It has been designated as a protected Ramsar site since 2022. More than 40,000 birds have been recorded in the sanctuary during the migratory season every year.

History[edit | edit source]

The Vedanthangal freshwater lake attracts water birds, and the area was protected by the local people, who benefited from the manure-rich water from the lake. The guano of the birds increased the agriculture yield of the surrounding fields.[1] The area was later used as hunting grounds for sport hunting of birds by the rich in the early 17th century.[2] Vedanthangal literally means the 'hamlet of the hunter' in Tamil language.[3] Towards the end of the 18th century, locals complained to the District Collector of Chingleput district about the British soldiers shooting the birds and obtained a cowle (a written acceptance) from the collector to protect the birds.[4] Due to its ecological importance, the British Government initiated further steps to develop it into a bird sanctuary in 1798. Several accounts of the area being a breeding place for birds were published in the 19th century.[5][6]

In the mid 19th century, the collector of Chingleput ordered it to be established as a protected area.[2] It was officially declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1936 and was the first such protected area to be established within the Indian boundaries.[2][7] The surrounding wetland was declared as reserve area as per the Madras Forest Act, 1882 on 4 June 1962. Subsequently, the surrounding 5 km (3.1 mi) zone were declared as part of the sanctuary as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in 1996 and the final notification was issued on 8 July 1998.[1]

Description[edit | edit source]

The sanctuary occupies an area of 74 acres (30 ha) and is one of the smallest wildlife sanctuaries in India.[2][8] The sanctuary consists of many small water bodies interconnected with the main tank, located at an altitude of about 122 m (400 ft).[1] The maximum depth of the lake is 5 m (16 ft) and it supplies water to nearly 250 acres of agricultural land in the region. The west and south sides of the lake are bordered by a long bund, whereas the northern and eastern sides extend to the agricultural lands. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 140 cm (55 in), mostly from the north-east monsoon.[9] There is a 24 ft (7.3 m) observation tower in the sanctuary.[10] In 2013, the lake was de-silted and new water channels were built by the Public Works Department to facilitate water supply to the lake from neighbouring water bodies.[11]

Flora[edit | edit source]

The sanctuary consists of a mixture of tropical and sub-tropical dry broadleaf forests interspersed with thorns and shrubs.[1][2] The wetland and the surrounding areas have been subject to deforestation and over grazing from domestic livestock, which resulted in the stunted scrub vegetation. There are two distinct types of vegetation in the sanctuary. The water area mainly consists of Barringtonia acutangula and Acacia nilotica trees, most of which were planted by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and are the main nest-supporting trees. The Barringtonia trees also serve as roosts for the non-breeding birds and safe high perches for the young lings.[1] In 2013, a further two lakh Barringtonia saplings were planted in the sanctuary.[11]

The periphery of the tank and the tank bund consists of a number of Terminalia arjuna trees. The tank bund also consists of Streblus and Calamus trees. There are other species such as Acacia nilotica, Alangium salviifolium, Albizzia lebbek, Azadirachta indica, Morinda tinctoria, Borassus flabellifer, Cassia fistula, and Solanum trilobatum on the area surrounding the tank. The partly submerged scrubs around the tank provide twigs for the birds to build nests and also serve as roosting grounds.[1]

Fauna[edit | edit source]

The unique ecosystem attracts a rich diversity of birds. Nearly 40000 birds are seen in the tank during the breeding season. When the nesting birds return with the young lings, there can be over 70000 birds in a good monsoon year.[1][11] The prime nesting species seen in the sanctuary are spot billed pelican, Asian open-billed stork, painted stork, Indian cormorant, little cormorant, black-crowned night heron, little egret, intermediate egret, grey heron, glossy ibis, black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, and Indian pond heron.[1][12] Migratory waterbirds wintering here include northern pintail, garganey, northern shoveller, black-winged stilt, and other shorebirds and terns such as whiskered tern.[1][13] Cattle egrets and little cormorants are also seen outside the breeding season. Other terrestrial birds such as darters, parakeets, babblers, mynas, barbets, bee-eaters, kingfishers, roller, cuckoo, oriole, drongo, and raptors such as black-winged kite, brahminy kite, short-toed eagle, pariah kite have been observed in Vedanthangal. [1]

Mammals seen in the sanctuary include Indian jackal, jungle cat, wild boar, black-naped hare, bonnet macaque, mongoose, mole rat, palm civet, flying fox, and Indian fox. A large number of fruit bats are also present in the bamboo trees around the lake. There are also reptiles and amphibians such as water snakes, Indian cobra, sand boas, terrapins, tortoises, lizards, and frogs.[2][1]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ramsar
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India (PDF). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India (Report). November 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Tamil Lexicon". University of Madras. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Bates, RSP (1931). Birdlife in India. Bombay Natural History Society.
  5. ↑ Shortt, John (1866). "Account of a heronry, and breeding-place of other water-birds, in southern India". Zoologist. 1: 11–16.
  6. ↑ Hume, AO (1889). The nests and eggs of Indian Birds. Volume 3. R H Porter. pp. 238–239.
  7. ↑ "Bio-Diversity and Wild Life in Tamil Nadu". Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Tamil Nadu". Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Venkatraman G; Thiyagesan K; Nagarajan R; Jyothinayakam, J.T. (1 January 2008). Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation. Daya Publishing House. p. 93. ISBN 978-81-7035-529-8.
  10. ↑ Karkar, S.C. (2009). The Top Ten Temple Towns of India. Kolkota: Mark Age Publication. p. 47. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Bird sanctuaries to open on Friday". The Hindu. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Santharam, V.; R. K. G. Menon (1991). "Observations on the water-bird populations of the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 31: 6-8.
  13. ↑ M. Krishnan. Vedanthangal. p. 9.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Protected areas of Tamil Nadu Template:Eastern Ghats Template:Ramsar sites in India

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