Thousands of flamingos camping in salt pots close to the beach of the district are attracting tourists from different parts of the district.
Flamingos which are attracted by brackish water bodies and feast on salt crab, shrimp, worms, worms, tubers etc., are all seen in abundance in the dazzling environment. Since the brackish water bodies of the district provide a favorable environment for these migratory birds, they have set up camps in thousands at different places in the district, close to the sea shore.
In Thoothukudi district, these beautiful winged visitors have camped in Pazhayakayal, Punnaikayal, Vembar, Vepplodai, Kulathathur, Panaiyur, Saltpan and Mohallas, where 100 to 1,000 flamingos can be seen hunting the brackish water creatures.
Since the stretch between South Beach Road and Harbor Road has a good number of seaside salt pots, these places have now attracted a few hundred flamingos.
“Though more and more flamingos visit Thoothukudi every year, this time the population is much higher. We are seeing for the first time that flamingos are camping in the salt pan near Roche Park,” said Raghuvaran, forest ranger of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust.
For the protection of these birds, the forest department has deployed anti-poaching watchmen.
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