Patna Bird Sanctuary and Gujarat’s Chhari-Dhand get Ramsar tag, India’s wetland count rises to 98

India adds Patna Bird Sanctuary and Gujarat’s Chhari-Dhand to its Ramsar Sites list, pushing the country’s total number of internationally important wetlands to 98 ahead of World Wetlands Day.

• India adds Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand as new Ramsar sites
• India's Ramsar site count rises to 98, boosting global wetland conservation
• Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand support rare birds and unique wildlife

Did our AI summary help?

India has added two more ecologically significant wetlands to its Ramsar Sites network, strengthening the country’s global conservation footprint just ahead of World Wetlands Day on February 2. Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district and Chhari-Dhand in Gujarat’s Kutch district have been officially designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The announcement was made by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on social media platform X, where he underscored the importance of these wetlands as critical habitats for migratory birds, resident species, and rare wildlife.

Congratulations Team Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat and the Wetland community!

With World Wetlands Day close by, I am delighted to announce that there are two new additions to India’s growing Ramsar network. Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch,… pic.twitter.com/VK8lVeGe07 — Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) January 30, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the development, extending his congratulations to local communities and conservationists for their efforts. In a social media post, he said the new inclusions “reaffirm our commitment to preserving biodiversity,” while acknowledging the role of grassroots participation in wetland protection.

Delighted that the Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah (Uttar Pradesh) and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch (Gujarat) are Ramsar sites. Congratulations to the local population there as well as all those passionate about wetland conservation. These recognitions reaffirm our commitment to preserving… https://t.co/0O3R5TBqbJ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 31, 2026

India’s Ramsar count rises to 98

With the inclusion of Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand, India’s total number of Ramsar sites has increased from 96 to 98, reinforcing its position among countries with the largest number of designated wetlands globally.

India is a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. The country became a signatory on February 1, 1982, committing to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands under internationally accepted frameworks.

Bhupender Yadav underlined the scale of India’s recent conservation push, writing, “Under the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, the Indian Ramsar network has seen an expansion of over 276% – climbing from 26 in 2014 to 98 now.”

Patna Bird Sanctuary: Small in size, rich in biodiversity

Located in the Jalesar subdivision of Etah district, Patna Bird Sanctuary is the smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, spanning just over one square kilometre. Despite its modest size, it is considered a biodiversity hotspot.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the sanctuary supports 178 bird species and 252 plant species. During peak winter—around late January—it hosts over 60,000 birds, making it a crucial seasonal refuge.

The wetland serves as an important resting and feeding ground for migratory species such as the Northern Pintail, which often dominates winter populations. The surrounding ecosystem also supports resident fauna, including the Nilgai (Blue Bull) and several endangered bird species, ensuring the survival of wildlife dependent on shallow, rain-fed wetlands.

Chhari-Dhand: A lifeline in Kutch’s arid landscape

In sharp contrast, Chhari-Dhand is a seasonal saline wetland located between the Banni grasslands and the salt flats of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The name “Chhari-Dhand” translates to a salt-affected shallow wetland, and during a good monsoon, it can expand to nearly 80 square kilometres.

It is Gujarat’s only Conservation Reserve and a critical wintering and stopover site for migratory birds entering India via the western flyway. The wetland supports species such as the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing, Common Pochard, and nearly 30,000 Common Cranes, along with Greater and Lesser Flamingos.

Beyond avian life, Chhari-Dhand provides a rare desert wetland habitat for mammals including chinkara, wolves, caracal, desert cats and desert foxes. The area is also known for the mysterious “Chir Batti” or ghost lights, an unexplained glowing phenomenon observed across the Banni grasslands on dark nights.

A timely boost for wetland conservation

The inclusion of these two sites comes at a symbolic moment, reinforcing India’s conservation credentials just ahead of World Wetlands Day. Experts note that Ramsar recognition not only boosts ecological protection but also promotes sustainable tourism and community-led conservation around these sensitive ecosystems.

With 98 Ramsar sites now spread across diverse landscapes—from Himalayan lakes to coastal mangroves and desert wetlands—India continues to expand its role in global wetland conservation.