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Lesser Flamingos in Lake Natron
Context: Tanzania halts soda ash mining to save the world’s Lesser Flamingos, prioritising long-term ecological health over short-term industrial gains.
Lesser Flamingos:
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened by IUCN due to habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance from industrial activities.
- Habitat: Prefers alkaline and saline lakes; Lake Natron is a globally significant breeding site due to its extreme chemistry that deters predators.
- Range: Found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Also present in parts of India, primarily in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- Population: Lake Natron supports about 75% of their global population.
- Diet: Feeds primarily on cyanobacteria and algae thriving in alkaline lakes, giving them the characteristic pink hue.
- Major Threats:
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- Habitat destruction (e.g., proposed soda ash mining at Lake Natron).
- Disturbance to hydrology and food web caused by diversion of freshwater or industrial activity.
- Pollution and climate change.
