Amazon’s ₹10 Crore Gift: Mumbai’s Flamingos Habitat…Get a New Lifeline!

Hope you have ever seen of pink flamingos near Mumbai?
If you live in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai, you must have heard about the beautiful flamingos that come every year near Thane Creek, Sewri, and nearby wetlands.

These birds fly thousands of kilometres to stay here for a few months. But do you know their home is in danger?
Now, Amazon — yes, the same online shopping giant — has announced a big help of almost ₹10 crore to protect their habitat.

Why do flamingos love Mumbai?

Mumbai may be crowded and noisy for us, but for flamingos, the wetlands are like a home! The creeks have shallow water, lots of algae, and fish — perfect food for these pink beauties.

Every winter, more than one lakh flamingos arrive here. They make the whole muddy area look magical. But sadly, construction, garbage dumping, and pollution are destroying their homes.

Why do flamingos flock to Mumbai?

Every year, from November to May, Mumbai’s wetlands, especially around Thane Creek and Sewri Mudflats, become a second home for migratory flamingos. They arrive in thousands from Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and even parts of Iran and Africa. The shallow, nutrient-rich waters serve as perfect breeding and feeding grounds.

However, over the last decade, rampant construction, dumping of debris, illegal encroachments, and untreated sewage have eaten into their fragile ecosystem. This not only threatens the flamingos but also the countless other species — birds, fish, crabs, and mangroves — that rely on these wetlands.

Amazon steps up: more than just an e-commerce giant

Amazon’s as worlds E-commerce giant, investment comitment isn’t just a CSR headline. It’s a much-needed nudge for corporates to look beyond profits and invest in sustainability. This $1.2 million fund will be channelled through conservation organisations working at the grassroots. The idea is to restore degraded wetlands, control pollution, improve mangrove cover, and create awareness among local communities.

One key aspect is involving fisherfolk and slum dwellers living near these creeks. They play a vital role as they are the first ones to notice illegal activities and can help monitor the health of the ecosystem. By providing alternative livelihood training and incentives, the program aims to create ‘community stewards’ for the wetlands.

Mumbai’s flamingos: not just birds, but climate warriors

These wetlands act as natural flood barriers for Mumbai, as many person unaware. Mangroves and marshlands absorb excess rainwater, helping prevent floods like the ones we dread every monsoon. By saving the flamingos’ habitat, we’re indirectly safeguarding ourselves too.

If the financial capital of India — where land is worth crores per acre — can set aside funds and space for its birds, then why not other urban centres?

Local heroes already doing the groundwork

Amazon’s funding is new, the real heroes have been the local NGOs, bird watchers, and citizen groups who’ve been fighting legal battles and conducting flamingo censuses for years.

Organisations like Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have been at the forefront, lobbying for Sewri(शिवरी )and Thane Creek(ठाड़े क्रीक)to be declared protected sites.

In fact, Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, officially notified in 2015, is one of Maharashtra’s youngest wildlife sanctuaries. It has given a glimmer of hope that development and conservation can go hand in hand — but only if citizens care.

The road ahead: what can we do?

Mumbai the dreams city — not just for people but for flamingos are consistant habitant for sea bank city alongwith people.
Amazon’s ₹10 crore investment inspires for other big companies to care for nature.

While in mumbai u spot a flock of pink flamingos near Sewri or Airoli, remember: we need them as much as they need us.

For mumbaikar safe, cleaner, greener Mumbai, we must save our wetlands is the first step.