The Karikili Bird Sanctuary is adjacent to a small village called Karikili situated 8 km north of Vedanthangal and lies partly in Maduranthangam Taluk, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. It is constituted of two rain-fed non-perennial irrigation tanks spread over an area of 58.442 ha. It exhibits a flat topography with undulating and gentle slopes in parts and is situated 100 m above MSL. Rainfall fluctuates greatly from year to year varying from 400 mm to almost 1700 mm, flooding the area in the months of monsoon (October to December). Karikili lake was declared as sanctuary vide G.O.M.S. No. 332 Environment and Forests (FRV) Department dated 23rd May 1989 under section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act ,1972. The terrain of the sanctuary is flat with a bund running in south-north-west direction for a distance of 1742 m. The bund is 3 m high and 2 m wide and it levels out towards the south-west. It regulates water outflow through sluices to the field. Agricultural fields surround the sanctuary along the eastern and western sides and a considerable portion of the fields get inundated with water. The Maduranthakam taluk is considered part of the Palar – Cheyyar sub-basin.Soil in the Lake is mostly clay with a fertile guano layer. The outflow is controlled through sluices in the bund. The terrain is flat and slope is gentle from East to West direction. The outflow is controlled through sluices in the bund. Northeast and Southwest monsoons contribute 54% and 36% respectively to the total annual rainfall.

Salient Features

• Provides nutrient-enriched water to agricultural fields in the surrounding the area
• Listed as international bird and biodiversity area with iba site code : in-tn-29, by bird life international and is part of migratory bird flyway (central asia flyway)

RAMSAR Certificate