PRAYAGRAJ, March 10 -- Following the historic arrival of over 66 crore devotees at the Mahakumbh Mela, preparations are now underway to welcome a rare sight-Indian skimmer chicks-on the banks of Sangam.

At the start of the fair, more than 150 pairs of Indian skimmers arrived, a species known to lay eggs between December and early March. Now, as their eggs hatch, conservation efforts have been intensified. To safeguard the newborn chicks from wild animals and poachers, a large number of watchers have been deployed, and the wildlife team remains on high alert, officials said.

In addition to the skimmers, over 90 species of native and migratory birds have flocked to the Sangam banks. The influx of bird enthusiasts from around the world to ...