The delayed annual arrival of flamingo flocks in Navi Mumbai's wetlands and Thane Creek is a critical warning sign of increasing environmental stress, experts said on Sunday.

The prolonged monsoon and post-monsoon rains this year are believed to be the cause, reflecting how climate change challenges are disrupting local ecosystems, they added.

"Flamingos are more than a spectacle. They are ambassadors of a healthy environment. Their presence in declining numbers indicates the ecosystem is struggling. Wetlands are protective climate infrastructure. As filter-feeders, flamingos maintain ecosystem health through bioturbation, which oxygenates mudflats and balances nutrients," said NatConnect Foundation director BN Kumar.

Global bodies like Ramsar and UNEP recognise these coastal wetlands a

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