Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

               Mangalavanam is an environmentally sensitive area in the central Indian city of Kochi. It is located behind the building of the High Court of Kerala. It is a nesting site for a variety of migratory birds and supports many varieties of mangroves. It is a popular bird sanctuary frequented by tourists, bird watchers, ornithologists and residents. The Managalavanam is often regarded as the green lung of Kochi, given its role in the maintenance of air pollution in the city under control. The area is a resting place for many species of resident and migratory birds. But recently, high-rise buildings in the vicinity of hindering the movement of birds in the bird sanctuary Mangalavanam. The buildings near the shrine of the correct orientation of the interruption, the takeoff and landing birds. Also cause obstacles in the regular movements of birds that nest in the nesting material transport.

It is also likely to hamper the movement of birds as food availability for chicks and chicks. Administrative control of the shrine is the director of wildlife, then Peechi Assistant Wildlife Warden, Peechi - Vazhani wildlife sanctuary.

Once a wooden yard also operated in this area, and the wood exported to foreign countries. But today, this activity is not here. A guest house is located in this area has been modernized in 1986 and current employees have been designated to protect birds in this sanctuary. Tourists flock to bird sanctuary Mangalavanam established guest house of the forest, the host government, houses of people with disabilities break and cabins of many private schools in Ernakulam.

A View from Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

True mangrove species and mangrove associates in the sanctuary there are Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius Acrostichum aureum and are important for species conservation. Among the species recorded ilicifolius acanthus is considered endangered and vulnerable as Rhizophora mucranata according to IUCN.

In a recent study showed that a total of 6 species of mammals Indian flying fox, bat painted three [[chipmunk palm - Dusky Palm Squirrel, Rat Black house-rat, and Bandicota Eurasian otter. Two species of amphibians limnocharis Limnonectes and Duttaphrynus melanostictus, and seven species of fish Anabas testudineus, panchax striped chromID Orange suratensis Etroplus, Malabar Swamp Eel, Black Rasbora and Sarotherodon mossambica.

Mangalavanam is primarily a refuge for birds. Bird survey in May 2006, it was found that there were 194 birds of 32 species. During the investigation in 2006, recorded 17 species of butterflies in this area. 51 species of spiders are 40 genera of 16 families have been recorded here. This represented 27% of all households reported from India.

Location: It is located at distance of 6km fromKochi.

Details: Best season to visit the sanctuiary is from January to March.