<p><strong>Syllabus Section: Environment</strong><br />
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<p><strong>Why in News?</strong><br />
Move to declare Kaliveli wetlands a sanctuary: first declaration issued.<br />
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<p><strong>About :</strong><br />
&bull; The Villupuram district administration has released the first declaration under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 with an aim to declare Kaliveli wetlands a bird sanctuary.<br />
&bull; Kaliveli is the second-largest brackish water lake in South India after Pulicat Lake.<br />
&bull; This declaration has been issued under Section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 by the District Administration.<br />
&bull; This decision will enhance the conservation activities in the wetland.<br />
&bull; As per a 2004 assessment of BirdLife International and the Indian Bird Conservation Network, Kaliveli Lake supports more than 20,000 birds each year.<br />
&bull; The wetland is a feeding ground for long-distance migrant birds from the cold subarctic regions of Siberia and Central Asia.<br />
&bull; Migratory birds coming to the lake are Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, White Stork, and Dublin.<br />
&bull; It is located near to the Marakkanam on the East Coast Road of Kaliveli Lake.</p>

<p><strong>Source: PIB</strong><br />
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