Moeyungyi Weland was originally constructed as a reservoir by British colonialists in 1878 after they occupied the lower Myanmar to supply water to the Bago Sittaung Canal in order to facilitate the transport of timber by boat. It is home for 20,844 birds from 44 species of migratory birds and 67 species of resident water birds according to the figures for the end of January. Since 1988 the government has designated the 25,600-acre wide Moeyungyi Wetland a wildlife sanctuary, on which about 17 villages rely on for their daily survival.