The Tamil Nadu Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests is moving forward with an exciting project: the International Bird Centre (IBC) at Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, located near Marakkanam in Villupuram. This initiative aims to boost bird conservation and awareness, and it comes with a price tag of around ₹46.94 crore.
The IBC will unfold in two locations spaced about 7.3 km apart: at the Agaram Reserved Forest along the East Coast Road and at Kazhuveli Lake itself. The project emphasizes blending the buildings with nature, ensuring that visitors feel part of the ecosystem.
Spanning 47.46 acres, the Agaram site will feature various facilities such as a Conservation Centre and a Wetland Mimic Area. The landscape design, inspired by the Auroville Botanical Garden, is set to become a living canvas that invites visitors to engage with the environment. This area will include diverse ecosystems like forests, grasslands, and pathways, promoting wildlife that ranges from insects to small mammals.
At the centre, visitors will encounter a scaled model of Kazhuveli Lake, along with zones that illustrate the lake’s history through displays and multimedia stations. These features will allow guests to listen to the calls of local birds. The second site, at Kazhuveli Lake, will offer bird-watching facilities and an observatory. Visitors can take electric shuttles from Agaram to Kazhuveli for an immersive experience.
Kazhuveli Lake is one of the Coromandel Coast’s largest and most vital wetlands. It connects to the Bay of Bengal and lies along the Central Asian Flyway, making it a key nesting area for migratory birds. The lake supports over 200 bird species, providing refuge for around 40,000 migratory birds that travel vast distances from Central Asia and Siberia.
Several bird species found in the sanctuary, such as the spot-billed pelican and flamingo, are classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to a 2016 report by the Bombay Natural History Society, the area regularly sees thousands of ducks, shorebirds, and terns during migration seasons.
This initiative not only focuses on conservation but also on education and community engagement, making it a vital addition to Tamil Nadu’s environmental efforts. Through this project, the region hopes to foster a deeper appreciation for birds and their habitats, encouraging visitors to become advocates for nature.
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Villupurum Bird Sanctuary,International Bird Centre in Villupuram,proposed International Bird Centre (IBC) at the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Villupuram’s Marakkanam
