Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Bandaara Kilhi Wetland Reserve is located on Fuvahmulah, the southernmost atoll island in the Maldives. It encompasses a unique freshwater lake system, one of the few in the Maldives, making it a critical sanctuary for biodiversity in a country predominantly composed of coral atolls. The reserve consists of two freshwater lakes, Bandaara Kilhi and Dhadimagi Kilhi, with Bandaara Kilhi being the focal point of the protected reserve. These wetlands provide essential habitat for a variety of endemic and migratory bird species, as well as several freshwater fish and plant species not typically found in the Maldives' marine environment. The area is also culturally significant to the local community, representing an important resource for fresh water and traditional fishing practices. Visitors to the reserve can engage in birdwatching, nature walks, and ecological studies, particularly during migratory seasons when diverse bird populations visit the site. Despite its relatively small size, Bandaara Kilhi Wetland Reserve showcases a freshwater ecosystem uncommon in the region and highlights ongoing efforts in conservation amid increasing developmental pressures. Key landmarks include the lakes themselves and surrounding marshlands, which are frequented by rare birds such as the Maldivian white-breasted waterhen and the Oriental darter. The reserve offers a peaceful environment for eco-tourists and naturalists seeking to experience an inland aquatic habitat far removed from the typical coral reef and ocean scenes Maldives is known for.
