Oussudu Bird Sanctuary
| Oussudu Bird Sanctuary Sanctuaire d'Oiseaux d'Ousteri | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
.jpg) Great egret in the Sanctuary | |
   | |
| Location | Puducherry, India |
| Area | 3.9 |
| Established | 2008 |
Oussudu or Ousteri Bird Sanctuary (French: Réserve Ornithologique d'Oussudu) is the first and the only wildlife sanctuary in the Indian union territory of Puducherry.[1] It was created in 2008.[1] It spans over 390 acres around the Ousteri lake.[2]
Flora and fauna
_(48917851913).jpg)
The lake is home to around 200 species of birds.[3] About 40 species of migratory birds visit the sanctuary after November everyear including golden oriole, openbill stork, tailor bird, painted stork, white ibis, white-breasted water-hen and spotted owlets.[1] The vegetation ranges from small herbs to trees, which supports migratory avifauna as well as native birds during summer and winter.[4]
However, bird poaching poses a significant threat to the sanctuary.[5] In 2022, the Wildlife Department in Puducherry (Direction des Forêts et de la Faune de Pondichéry) seized 57 bird carcasses, which had been poisoned and killed by poachers.[6]
References
- ^ a b c "Puducherry gets its first bird sanctuary". The Times of India. 2008-12-09. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- ^ "Oussudu lake, a fully protected wetland now". The Hindu. 2015-04-23. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- ^ Nair, Rajesh B. (2022-12-11). "Lack of amenities keep visitors at bay from scenic Ousteri lake". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- ^ "Pondicherry" (PDF). www.bnhs.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ Perier, Bagalavan (2022-02-11). "Bird census finds illegal poaching at Puducherry's Ousteri lake". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- ^ Prasad, S. (2024-03-10). "57 carcasses of birds seized in Puducherry; poachers flee". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-04-20.