Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) Becomes India’s 100th Ramsar Site

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The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Uttar Pradesh has been designated as India’s 100th Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

• It is the 13th Ramsar Site in Uttar Pradesh.
• It has been assigned Ramsar Site No. 2595.

About Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal)

• Located in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh.
• A freshwater wetland situated in the middle stretch of the Ganga River basin.
• Originally formed from a meander (loop) of the Ganga River.
• Receives freshwater inflow through three channels.
• The surrounding landscape comprises floodplains, marshes, seasonally flooded areas, rice paddies.
• Biodiversity: An important habitat for migratory and resident birds. Notable bird species-Common Pochard (Vulnerable) and Indian River Tern.

• Important fish species: Wallago Attu (Vulnerable), Bagarius Bagarius.
• The wetland also supports the Fishing Cat (Vulnerable), which uses the area as a feeding ground.

About Ramsar Sites

• Ramsar Sites are wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention.
• The Convention was adopted in 1971 at Ramsar in Iran.
• Its objective is the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Related FactShekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh) was designated as India’s 99th Ramsar Site in April 2026.

Source: Ramsar