Atapaka Bird Sanctuary

Why in News

The Atapaka Bird Sanctuary at Kolleru Lake has become a safe breeding ground for two migratory species namely, Grey Pelicans and Painted Storks.

  • The present water level in Kolleru Lake, including Atapaka Sanctuary, is posing a slight challenge for the birds to hunt their prey in the deep waters.
  • Grey Pelican and Painted Stork both are near threatened species under IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Kolleru Lake

  • Kolleru lake is located between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Andhra Pradesh.
    • The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for the two rivers.
  • It is an important habitat for an estimated 20 million residents and migratory birds like Grey or Spot-billed pelicans.
  • It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999 under India's Wild Life Protection Act,1972.
  • It was declared a wetland of international importance in 2002 under Ramsar convention.

Source:TH