Sewri Mud Flats

Overview

The Sewri mudflats are a really beautiful natural heritage site. Over 10,000 endangered pink, scarlet, and white flamingos migrate here every winter. They look like ballerinas walking elegantly. It is truly gorgeous after the noise and pollution of the city. Despite the fact that they come here in a large number, barely anyone in Mumbai is aware of their presence, nor do they know that they are endangered.

Sewri has a jetty for landing small boats for fishermen. Bordering the Mahul Creek on its west is the area around the village of Anik, which was reserved as coastal no-development zone, being largely salt-pans and lands flooded by the sea during very high tides and swamps populated by migratory birds.

The Bombay National History Society (BNHS) heard of plans to construct a Trans Harbour Link at Sewri, which would mean that the flamingos would lose a migratory spot, and tried to stop it. After a lot of letter-writing and protests, the migratory zone has been saved! To spread awareness about this, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) holds a 'Flamingo Festival' every year. Anyone is allowed to attend this event which is held at the Sewri mud flats itself. Binoculars are set up for anyone to see the flamingos, which are at a little distance from the land. Merchandise bearing the letters 'Save The Flamingo' is also sold. If you miss the festival you can always visit the flamingos on any other day. A few of them will always be there to greet you! I hope these initiatives taken by the BNHS will help the flamingos get back their natural habitat, which has almost been lost.

Mumbai Heritage Explorers