Visitors flying drones pose major threat to flamingos at wetlands in Navi Mumbai

“The sharp, whirring propeller blades of these drones can badly hurt or even kill the fragile birds, which are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972,” said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation. Some visitors also use drones to track the flight path of these birds which poses an even more significant risk if they are not warned.

Rekha Sankhala of the Save Flamingos and Mangroves Forum said, “I have witnessed such disturbing scenes at the TS Chanakya flamingo zone. Additionally, there is a danger of people turning violent if a commoner like me tries to stop them.” She also highlighted that young drone operators might be unaware of the danger they pose to the birds. Sankhala called for measures to make them aware of the risks and suggested the need for police enforcement to protect the birds.

Drones disturb the birds when they land at the TS Chanakya, NRI, and DPS flamingo zones in Navi Mumbai, especially when the tidal water level rises at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS). These large water bodies in Navi Mumbai are considered satellite wetlands and are the roosting spots for the migratory pink birds coming to the TCFS.

The environmentalists from Navi Mumbai have consistently claimed that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) treats the wetlands as developable land parcels, ignoring crucial environmental and ecological balance issues. They are calling for immediate action to safeguard the flamingos and their habitats from these emerging threats”

Birder Jyoti Nadkarni, a resident of Navi Mumbai said, “The unsafe drone culture is spreading like a virus among youngsters and is frequently observed at major flamingo zones, it must be regulated legally.” Environmentalists have also reported incidents of stone-throwing aimed at scaring the birds away. This harassment could eventually lead to the abandonment of these habitats by flamingos, allowing vested interests to claim the areas for development.

NatConnect’s complaint has been forwarded to the Director General of Police, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner, and the Mangrove Cell, calling for official intervention to prevent drones from entering flamingo zones and the environmentalists are waiting for the outcome.