Migration
of
flamingos
is
considered
one
of
the
iconic
moments
in
Mumbai
as
they
visit
every
year
to
paint
the
city
pink.
Since
the
1980s,
flocks
of
30,000-40,000
of
the
bird
have
been
settling
along
the
Thane
Creek
between
September
and
April.
The
number
has
increased
significantly
over
the
years
and
in
2020,
Mumbai
registered
close
to
1.5
lakh
birds
as
per
Bombay
Natural
History
Society
(BNHS).
While
four
decades
back
the
conditions
were
ideal
for
flamingos
to
visit
the
city,
but
today,
unfortunately
we
see
them
being
squeezed
on
smaller
pockets,
forcing
the
flamingos
to
thrive
within
increasingly
shrinking
wetlands
owing
to
the
continuing
encroachment
of
their
habitats
due
to
construction
projects
and
rampant
disregard
of
citizens
demands
for
their
protection.
Previously
a
flamingo
hotspot,
the
Uran
wetlands
for
instance,
has
been
recently
reclaimed
to
make
way
for
a
new
airport.
Meanwhile,
the
ongoing
construction
of
the
Mumbai
Trans
Harbour
Link
-
a
22km
sea
bridge
that
cuts
across
mangroves
and
mudflats
to
Navi
Mumbai
-
means
flamingos
no
longer
flock
in
such
numbers
to
Sewri
Bay,
which
lies
between
Thane
Creek
and
the
Arabian
Sea.
To
add
on
to
that,
clearance
has
been
given
to
India's
first
bullet
train
to
pass
through
the
creek's
protected
flamingo
sanctuary.
If
such
unsustainable
development
projects
continue
to
be
given
approvals,
Mumbai
will
not
be
left
with
wetlands
or
mangroves,
nor
our
iconic
flamingos.
Concerned
by
the
impact
of
unsustainable
development
on
Mumbai's
iconic
flamingos,
renowned
environmentalists,
public
figures,
and
informed
citizens
have
taken
to
Twitter
to
share
their
voice
to
protect
the
wetlands
for
flamingos.
Mumbai
is
my
home.
It’s
also
the
home
of
the
beautiful
pink
flamingos.
Shouldn't
you
and
I
do
more
to
ensure
that
they
can
live
here
as
safely
as
we
can
?
#MumbaiWantsPinkhttps://t.co/7pl83QNb1n
Mumbai
is
my
home,
and
it
is
also
the
home
of
the
lesser
flamingos.
Let
us
pledge
to
do
more
to
make
space
for
them
and
let
them
live
in
peace.
#MumbaiWantsPink
https://t.co/FUahyFuvRp
This
is
breathtaking
and
to
realise
this
is
around
us.
Always
been...
Mumbai
is
our
home,
and
also
the
home
of
these
flamingos.
We
need
to
do
more
to
ensure
they
can
flourish
here
as
peacefully
as
we
can.
#MumbaiWantsPink
https://t.co/Paj04JM9rL
Mumbai
is
my
home,
and
it
is
also
the
home
of
the
pink
flamingos.
We
must
do
more
to
allow
them
the
space
they
deserve
and
which
belongs
to
them.
#MumbaiWantsPink
https://t.co/DyGBWomLcE