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oi-Filmibeat Desk

Migration of flamingos is considered one of the iconic moments in Mumbai as they visit every year to paint the city pink. Since the 1980s, flocks of 30,000-40,000 of the bird have been settling along the Thane Creek between September and April. The number has increased significantly over the years and in 2020, Mumbai registered close to 1.5 lakh birds as per Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

While four decades back the conditions were ideal for flamingos to visit the city, but today, unfortunately we see them being squeezed on smaller pockets, forcing the flamingos to thrive within increasingly shrinking wetlands owing to the continuing encroachment of their habitats due to construction projects and rampant disregard of citizens demands for their protection.

Previously a flamingo hotspot, the Uran wetlands for instance, has been recently reclaimed to make way for a new airport. Meanwhile, the ongoing construction of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link - a 22km sea bridge that cuts across mangroves and mudflats to Navi Mumbai - means flamingos no longer flock in such numbers to Sewri Bay, which lies between Thane Creek and the Arabian Sea. To add on to that, clearance has been given to India's first bullet train to pass through the creek's protected flamingo sanctuary. If such unsustainable development projects continue to be given approvals, Mumbai will not be left with wetlands or mangroves, nor our iconic flamingos.

Concerned by the impact of unsustainable development on Mumbai's iconic flamingos, renowned environmentalists, public figures, and informed citizens have taken to Twitter to share their voice to protect the wetlands for flamingos.

Here's what they have to say.

Mumbai is my home, and it is also the home of the lesser flamingos. Shouldn't we do more to ensure they can live here as safely as you and I ? #MumbaiWantsPinkhttps://t.co/L2fVrs3nPH https://t.co/F3SxStiafM

— Vishal Bhardwaj (@VishalBhardwaj) September 11, 2020

Mumbai is my home, and it is also the home of the lesser flamingos. Shouldn't we do more to ensure they can live here as safely as you and I ? #MumbaiWantsPinkhttps://t.co/6HSKL9IIkA https://t.co/Yi6RnOpgy6

— rekha bhardwaj (@rekha_bhardwaj) September 11, 2020

Mumbai is my home. It’s also the home of the beautiful pink flamingos. Shouldn't you and I do more to ensure that they can live here as safely as we can ? #MumbaiWantsPinkhttps://t.co/7pl83QNb1n

— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) September 11, 2020

Mumbai is my home, and it is also the home of the lesser flamingos. Let us pledge to do more to make space for them and let them live in peace. #MumbaiWantsPink https://t.co/FUahyFuvRp

— Kunal Kapoor (@kapoorkkunal) September 11, 2020

This is breathtaking and to realise this is around us. Always been...

Mumbai is our home, and also the home of these flamingos. We need to do more to ensure they can flourish here as peacefully as we can. #MumbaiWantsPink https://t.co/Paj04JM9rL

— Vasan Bala (@Vasan_Bala) September 11, 2020

Mumbai is my home, and it is also the home of the pink flamingos. We must do more to allow them the space they deserve and which belongs to them. #MumbaiWantsPink https://t.co/DyGBWomLcE

— meera chopra (@MeerraChopra) September 11, 2020

#MumbaiWantsPink https://t.co/H2gkBIXtTr pic.twitter.com/vCkYQXMsdf

— Ashwin Mushran (@ashwinmushran) September 11, 2020

To keep making Mumbai conducive to flamingos. I have a vested interest. These swathes of pink are my migrant neighbours. https://t.co/opjwcg1Rl7

— bachi karkaria (@bachikarkaria) September 9, 2020