Meinmahla Kyun ( Meinmahla Kyun )

Meinmahla Island is the Island that was made up of mudflats in the Ayeyarwady Delta, only a few feet above sea level and almost entirely covered in mangroves. It is home to Myanmar’s largest population of estuarine saltwater crocodiles, and also one of Myanmar’s premier bird-watching sites.

Designation of the Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary as the third Ramsar Site was announced at a ceremony on World Wetlands Day, which was held at the Moeyungyi Wildlife Sanctuary, the first Ramsar Site, in February 02, 2017, organized by the Forestry Department, the Norway Environmental Agency (NEA) and Shwe Pyi Aye Company.

Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland reserve in lower Myanmar. It is located in Bogale Towship in Ayeyarwady Region and it is classified as a mangrove ecosystem reserve. The reserve is occupied an area of 137 square kilometers (52.79 sq mi) and was established in 1986. There is a wide variety of mangrove species present on the island, and also a mangrove nursery can be visited. The protested area has a total of 29 mangrove tree species and saltwater crocodiles.

For the birds, at least 117 species of birds have been recorded from that site, including forest birds, waterbirds and shorebirds. The island is an important breeding and staging area with the East Asian Australasian Flyway and boasts numerous migratory waterbirds over the winter from November to February.

Some bird species can be seen: Lesser Whistling-duck, Coppersmith Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Greater and Lesser Coucal, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Alexandring Parakeet, Asian Palm Swift and many more.