Sri Lanka: Flamingos fly from Iran, Russia to feed in shallow water

Jaffna: Flamingos have returned to the wetlands along the shoes of Jaffna Island, Sri Lanka. The long-legged pink birds, which live in colonies, gathered near the International Marine border, Jaffna Islands and other spots in the lagoon.

Belonging to Greater Flamingos species, the birds migrated from Iran and southern parts of Russia mainly for feeding in the shallow water.

Small organisms thrive in shallow ponds in brackish waters, during the northeast monsoon. Flamingos feed on these organisms and store fat in the body which they use to fly back to Russia.

However, industries along the coast have endangered the already fragile coastal ecology.