Ramsar Sites in India Reach 91 with Menar and Khichan Added
Why in the news
Two Rajasthan wetlands joined India’s Ramsar list shortly before World Environment Day (5 June 2025), lifting the total to 91.
| Feature | Menar | Khichan |
|---|---|---|
| District | Udaipur | Phalodi |
| Known as | Bird Village | Demoiselle Crane haven |
| Size | 104 hectares | Not given |
| Highlights | 200+ bird species; IBA since 2016; local ban on hunting and fishing | Stopover on the Central Asian Flyway; bird care in local custom |
About Ramsar Sites
- A wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention (1971, Ramsar, Iran).
- A wetland must meet any one of 9 criteria, e.g. rare species habitat, large bird or fish populations, breeding or migration role, unique ecology.
- India’s total area under Ramsar: about 13.59 lakh hectares; it signed on 1 February 1982.
Exam angle
- New sites: Menar, Khichan; Menar nickname: Bird Village.
- Related terms: Important Bird Area, Central Asian Flyway.