The Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is the new center of attraction for Flaura and Fauna lovers in Mumbai. It is spread over 4190 acres, the second biggest open space after Sanjay Gandhi National park of Mumbai. In the month of December 2020 and January 2021, Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary welcomed 11000 visitors which is far more than last year’s record (7,687 visitors for the entire year). If you want, Flamingos to welcome you here, then you have to come only in the month of December and January. If you are one of them who miss the chance this year, don’t worry! This article will bring you a tour of the entire Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
What Does Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary Include?
It includes creek (the natural stream of water smaller than river) area of 1,962 acres and mangroves on the banks of this creek covering 2,214 acres. Now, the main thing is that what will we see in this creek and mangrove forest?
Overview of Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary
So, the government has arranged a ferry ride in this creek that allows us to explore different marine species such as pink flamingos and other 45 fish species and 167 bird species. The mangrove forest is just 5 or 10 meters above sea level. You can explore this forest that includes 12 true mangrove species by walking on the bamboo pathways and there are two towers for watching birds and more are being constructed.
Location Of TCFs
The TCFS covers the area of Thane, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Now, if you are a tourist and want to explore TCFS then you have to start it from Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Centre which lies in a region of Navi Mumbai called Airoli. This is the place where the ferry ride starts and those bamboo pathways and towers are placed. For more clarity, we should opt for maps.
In this map the outlined area is of Mumbai and the blue area shown between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai is known as Thane Creek.
In the second map, the outlined area is of Navi Mumbai and the pinned point is showing TCFS.
In the last map, the outlined area is of Airoli (a region of Navi Mumbai) and the pinned point is showing TCFS again.
Now you have some sort of imagination about the location of TCFS and this will make better understand further article.
Ferry Ride In The Creek
This is the major source of attraction for tourists. There are two types of boats, simple boat, and speed boat. In the simple or normal boat, it is approximately 1 hour ride. The timing for the ride is changeable, it sets according to the time of high tides. So, you have to make a call in center and should ask about the timing there and then you can book our tickets.
They have a very limited number of seats and slots that’s why we have to call them, few days before our finalized date. The ticket price is Rs.396 (per head) on weekdays and RS.528 (per head) on weekends and on speed boat the ticket price is, 6600 (7 persons).You have to pay online.
According to the guide of ferry, 40,000 flamingos are coming every year from Kuchh, Gujarat to TCFS. They went to Kuchh for breeding and comes to TCFS, Airoli for feeding. They feed on algae due to which the colour of flamingos changed into Pink. After Malvan Sanctuary, it is the second bird sanctuary of Maharashtra.
Some More Spots In Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Centre!
The Blue Whale’s Skeleton
The skeleton of the Blue whale is present there with information about each and every bone. The guide told that the centre brought a dead blue whale and then removed its flesh and his bones have been preserved here. It is very fascinating to touch a real blue whale skeleton and most important, the knowledge is invaluable.
Highly Advanced museum
After the ferry ride, we can visit the Museum, it is technologically highly advanced. The gadgets placed inside give authentic information about each bird, insect, and mangrove species with in a single touch. We can listen the voice of birds and insects and explore the whole TCFS and Mumbai in the form of a map model. The initiative of TCFS taken by the government should be applauded.
Birth of Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary
The sanctuary came into existence after the flood tragedy, 2005, that ruined 546 families. After that, the Bombay High Court ordered for implementation of the Coastal Regulation of 1991 and the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 to stop further destruction of the city’s Mangroves. The government proposed to spend of Rs.100 crore in next ten years for the development of TCFS.
FUN FACT- According to the sources, when the pollution was drastically reduced due to lockdown in 2020, Dolphins were spotted in the month of December.
