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Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission

Karikili Bird Sanctuary

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)

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Location Chengalpattu
Area 58.44 hectares
Wetland Type Inland - Human-made wetland - Water Storage Reservior / Tank
Date of Designation 08-04-2022
Ramsar Site No. 2480

Values and Benefits

  • Provisioning Services
  • Food for humans
  • Fresh water
  • Regulating Services
  • Maintenance of hydrological regimes
  • Erosion protection
  • Climate regulation
  • Biological control of pests and disease
  • Hazard reduction
  • Cultural Services
  • Recreation and tourism
  • Spiritual and inspirational
  • Supporting Services
  • Biodiversity
  • Soil formation
  • Nutrient cycling
  • Pollination

Threats

  • Invasive and other problematic species and genes
  • Invasive non-native/ alien species
  • Human settlements (non agricultural)
  • Housing and urban areas
  • Commercial and industrial areas
  • Agriculture & aquaculture
  • Annual and perennial non-timber crops
  • Biological resource use
  • Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources

Ramsar Criteria

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Management Authority Wildlife Warden, Chennai Wildlife Division, Guindy Children?s Park,
Protection Status Bird Sanctuary

Species of Global Conservation Significance

Notable Species: Garganey teals, common teals, shovellers, pintail ducks, stilts, sandpipers, cormorants, egrets, grey heron, open-billed stork, darter, spoonbill, white ibis, night herons, little grebes, grey pelican, jungle cat, grey mongoose, palm civet, flying fox, bonnet macaque, water snakes, fox, jackal, cobra, python, sand boa, lizards, and frogs

Species Count

Birds 138
Fishes 20
Plants 70
Mammals 14
Reptiles & Ambhibians 25
Arthropods 67

Site Images