❖ The Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission is pursuing Ramsar designation for two more bird sanctuaries in Ramanathapuram.

❖ Ramanathapuram is home to five bird sanctuaries — Therthangal, Sakkara kottai, Melaselvanoor-Keelaselvanoor, Kanjirankulam, and Chitrangudi.

❖ Of them, the Chitrangudi and Kanjirankulam sanctuaries received the Ramsar status in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

❖ Tamil Nadu now boasts 18 Ramsar sites, the highest in India.

❖ The State’s wetlands constitute 6.92% of the total geographical area, above the national average of 4.86%.

❖ The Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, the first to receive the Ramsar tag in 2002.