Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Mangalavanam is an ecologically sensitive area situated at the centre of the India
n city of Kochi
. It is situated behind the Kerala High Court
building. It is a nesting ground for a large variety of migratory birds and supports many types of mangroves. The Managalavanam is often regarded as the "green lung of Kochi", considering its role in keeping the city's air pollution under check. The area is a roosting place for many kinds of resident and migratory birds.
Recently the high-rise buildings in the nearby area are curtailing the movement of birds in the sanctuary. The buildings close to the sanctuary interrupt proper orientation, take-off and landings of the birds. They also cause hurdles in the regular movements of the nesting
birds in transporting nesting materials. It is also likely to hinder the movement of birds while bringing food materials to the chicks and fledglings. The administrative control of the sanctuary is with the wildlife warden of Peechi
and then to assistant wildlife warden of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
.
, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius
and Acrostichum aureum — the species of conservation importance. Of the recorded species Acanthus ilicifolius
is considered to be Endangered and Rhizophora mucranata as Vulnerable according to IUCN.
In a recent study revealed six species of mammals Indian flying-fox, painted bat
, three-striped palm squirrel
/dusky palm squirrel
, house rat
/black rat
, bandicota
, and Eurasian otter. Two species of amphibians Limnonectes limnocharis and Duttaphrynus melanostictus, and seven species of fishes Anabas testudineus
, Striped panchax
, Orange chromide
, Etroplus suratensis
, Malabar swamp eel, Blackline rasbora and Sarotherodon mossambica were found.
Mangalavanam is primarily a bird refuge. A bird survey conducted in May 2006 found that there were 194 birds belonging to 32 species. The total number of bird species recorded so far from the area is 72.
During a study conducted in 2006, 17 species of butterflies were recorded in this area. 51 species of spiders belonging to 40 Genus
and 16 families were recorded here. This represented 27% of the total families reported from India
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n city of Kochi
Kochi (India)
Kochi , formerly Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. Kochi is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi is often called by the name Ernakulam, which refers to the western part of the mainland Kochi...
. It is situated behind the Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court
High Court of Kerala is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The High Court of Kerala is headquartered at Kochi...
building. It is a nesting ground for a large variety of migratory birds and supports many types of mangroves. The Managalavanam is often regarded as the "green lung of Kochi", considering its role in keeping the city's air pollution under check. The area is a roosting place for many kinds of resident and migratory birds.
Recently the high-rise buildings in the nearby area are curtailing the movement of birds in the sanctuary. The buildings close to the sanctuary interrupt proper orientation, take-off and landings of the birds. They also cause hurdles in the regular movements of the nesting
Bird nest
A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...
birds in transporting nesting materials. It is also likely to hinder the movement of birds while bringing food materials to the chicks and fledglings. The administrative control of the sanctuary is with the wildlife warden of Peechi
Peechi
Peechi Dam is situated in a village outside Thrissur city in Kerala, India. The dam was started as an irrigation project for the surrounding villages in Thrissur. At the same time, it catered the drinking water needs of the population of Thrissur city. It serves as an irrigation dam, reaching out...
and then to assistant wildlife warden of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary headquartered in Peechi, Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The sanctuary was established in 1958 consisting of Palappilli- Nelliyampathi forests including the area of Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary....
.
Flora and fauna
The true mangrove and mangrove associate species that exist in the sanctuary are Avicennia officinalisAvicennia officinalis
Avicennia officinalis is a species of mangrove. The young tree forms a low, dense bushy crown. When it matures, it forms a columnar tree up to 15 m and may grow up to 30 m. The shiny green leaves, 10 cm long by 5 cm wide, have rounded apexes and golden-brown under leaf and grow in opposites...
, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius
Acanthus ilicifolius
Acanthus ilicifolius is a species of plant in the genus Acanthus, native to India and Sri Lanka.It is a small shrub growing along lakes and marshes and sea shores....
and Acrostichum aureum — the species of conservation importance. Of the recorded species Acanthus ilicifolius
Acanthus ilicifolius
Acanthus ilicifolius is a species of plant in the genus Acanthus, native to India and Sri Lanka.It is a small shrub growing along lakes and marshes and sea shores....
is considered to be Endangered and Rhizophora mucranata as Vulnerable according to IUCN.
In a recent study revealed six species of mammals Indian flying-fox, painted bat
Painted Bat
The Painted Bat is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.It is found in Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. It is found in arid woodland....
, three-striped palm squirrel
Indian Palm Squirrel
The Indian Palm Squirrel also known as Three-Striped Palm Squirrel, is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family that can be easily domesticated and kept as pets. It is found naturally in India and Sri Lanka...
/dusky palm squirrel
Dusky Palm Squirrel
The Dusky Palm Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family.It is found in India and Sri Lanka....
, house rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
/black rat
Black Rat
The black rat is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus in the subfamily Murinae . The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.-Taxonomy:The black rat was...
, bandicota
Bandicota
Bandicota is a genus of rodent from Asia. They are known as the bandicoot rats.-Species:Genus Bandicota - bandicoot rats*Lesser Bandicoot Rat, Bandicota bengalensis Gray and Hardwicke, 1833...
, and Eurasian otter. Two species of amphibians Limnonectes limnocharis and Duttaphrynus melanostictus, and seven species of fishes Anabas testudineus
Climbing gourami
The Anabantidae are a family of perciform fish commonly called the climbing gouramies or climbing perches. As labyrinth fishes, they possess a labyrinth organ, a structure in the fish's head which allows them to breathe atmospheric oxygen...
, Striped panchax
Striped panchax
The striped panchax, Aplocheilus lineatus, is a species of killifish, of the genus Aplocheilus. An aquarium variant of this species with a more yellowish coloration is known as golden wonder killifish. The striped panchax inhibits fresh and brackish waters of India and Sri Lanka. It is found in...
, Orange chromide
Orange chromide
The Orange chromide is a species of fish endemic to freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries in southern India and Sri Lanka. The species is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, and is kept frequently in aquariums...
, Etroplus suratensis
Etroplus suratensis
The green chromide is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri Lanka...
, Malabar swamp eel, Blackline rasbora and Sarotherodon mossambica were found.
Mangalavanam is primarily a bird refuge. A bird survey conducted in May 2006 found that there were 194 birds belonging to 32 species. The total number of bird species recorded so far from the area is 72.
During a study conducted in 2006, 17 species of butterflies were recorded in this area. 51 species of spiders belonging to 40 Genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
and 16 families were recorded here. This represented 27% of the total families reported from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.