Navi Mumbai’s Wetlands Welcome Flamingos as Conservation Efforts Get a Boost

Navi Mumbai, 6th March 2025: Each year, Navi Mumbai’s wetlands transform into a stunning spectacle as thousands of Greater and Lesser flamingos migrate to the region, turning the landscape into a mesmerizing sea of pink. This natural wonder draws the attention of nature lovers, photographers, and social media users, with breathtaking visuals going viral online.

The Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary plays a crucial role in supporting these migratory birds, offering an ideal habitat through its mangrove forests, mudflats, and salt pans, which provide abundant food and shelter.

On Tuesday, Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong (@SGinIndia), shared a video that quickly gained traction online. The footage captured a “flamboyance” of flamingos soaring gracefully over Navi Mumbai’s wetlands, showcasing the region’s ecological significance.

“Stunning sights at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, where tens of thousands of Greater and Lesser flamingos migrate to each year. A true ecological marvel in the heart of India’s financial capital, Mumbai,” read the caption on X.

In a major step toward conservation, Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund has pledged $1.2 million to protect flamingo habitats along Thane Creek. The investment focuses on restoring crucial mangrove forests and mudflats, essential feeding grounds for these iconic birds.

In collaboration with Hasten Regeneration, a social enterprise dedicated to ecosystem restoration, Amazon’s funding will support two key projects:
1. A large-scale clean-up initiative along Thane Creek to combat pollution and safeguard the wetland ecosystem.
2. Mangrove plantation drives in Gujarat to restore and expand forest cover, ensuring a sustainable habitat for flamingos and other marine species.

Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations at Amazon India, emphasized the project’s goals: “We are allocating $1.2 million over three years through Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund. The Mumbai Mangrove Restoration Project focuses on three key aspects—cleaning bird habitats, restoring mangroves, and supporting local communities. We aim to remove plastic and waste from areas home to 180 bird species, including Mumbai’s flamingos. Additionally, we will replant 150 hectares of mangroves—approximately 375,000 trees—along the coastline while also generating employment and empowering women in local fishing communities.”