MANGALAVANAM BIRD SANCTUARY
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
consists of a small bit of tidal mangrove vegetation situated about 100 meters north
of the Kerala High Court at Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala State. The
area of the sanctuary is only 2.74 ha. This area, though small in size, is a haven
offering a suitable nesting and roosting site for a large number of local and
migratory, birds especially wetland species. In addition to the myriad
ecological, economic and social values of mangrove vegetation, the area in
general assumes greater importance because of its
special location as a green lung of the city and for its potential as a knowledge
centre tor imparting environmental education to the urban population of the
city.
HISTORY
The nearby area of the
present day Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary was previously used as a timber depot
namely Ernakulam timber depot for stocking timber through ferry boats. This depot
was under Malayattoor Division till 1970 and from 1970 to 1981 it was under Timber
sales Division, Kalady. From 1981 upto 2005 the area was under the control of
Social Forestry Division, Ernakulam. It was declared as a bird sanctuary in
2004 August. From September 2005 the management of the sanctuary was done by the
Peechi Wildlife Division and from
July 2009 the management of the sanctuary is done by the Nature Study Centre, Kalady.
The choice of the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary was based on the fact that it is
one of the most important areas for migratory water birds in Kerala. The high
bird numbers indicate that the area is being utilized by migratory birds as
staging or wintering ground. The wetland and mangrove area serve as foraging grounds
for the birds indicating the area's high productivity. The higher ground among the
mangrove stands within the Sanctuary also serves as a roosting
site for the birds at high tide. To ensure the protection and conservation of
the mangrove and the associated faunal and floral resources, Mangalavanam was declared
as a Protected Area on 31st August 2004 is a patch of natural
greenery comprising mainly of mangrove species in a small tidal wetland, situated
amidst the fast growing city, Kochi, in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The word ' Mangal
denotes mangrove ecosystem in Portuguese language and in relation to this, the name
‘Mangalavanam’ was used.
GEOPHYSICAL
FEATURES SUCH AS
Location
Mangalavanam Bird
Sanctuary is situated in Ernakulam (City of Kochi) on the coast of the Arabian
Sea. Kochi is the commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala, also
known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. With one of the finest natural harbours
in the world. Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is located between latitudes 9°59’13.4"
N and longitudes 760 16'26.1” E in the east of Central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)
close to the new building complex of the High court ot Kerala. The Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Limited campus is in the north and the old Ernakulam Railway Station
on the south and east. A shallow tidal pond occupying part of the protected area
has the periphery covered by dense growth of mangrove vegetation and is connected
with Cochin backwaters by a feeder canal. The mangrove serves as a shelter for birds
both residents and migratory.
Area
Currently the area
under protection is only a small patch of greenery
with a tidal wetland with an extent of 2.74 ha.
Altitude
Less than 6 in above Mean
Sea Level ( MSL), parallel to the coast.
Annual rainfall
The normal rainfall
ranges from 2698.9 mm to 5883.5 mm per annum. On an average. 3000 mm rainfall occurs
annually. Out of this, the major contribution is from Southwest monsoon season and
other seasons contribute less rainfall. The maximum rainfall occurs during the period
from June to September.
Temperature
Ihe climate is a bit
hot during summer but pleasant during the rainy season. The maximum temperature
ranges from 28.9°C to 32.7°C and the minimum temperature ranges from 22.1°C to
25.4°C. The average annual maximum temperature is 30.8°C and the minimum
temperature is 23.9°C. Generally March to May months are hottest and November, December
and January months are coldest.
Climate
The terrain of the Sanctuary
is plain land of coastal region. Wet type of climatic conditions prevails in Ernakulam
district. The relative humidity is higher (80%- 90%) during monsoon months, i.e.,
from June to October. In rest of the year, it ranges from 70% - 80%. The mean
wind speed ranges from 6.7km /h to 10.9 km/h. Since the area receives rainfall throughout
the year, no drought has so far been experienced in this region.
FLORA
The Vegetation of Mangalavanam
is dominated by Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata and Acanthus
ilicifolius. True mangrove and mangrove associate species such as Avicennia
officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius, Derris trifoliata and
Acrostichus aureum are also present here. Other plant species included Alternanthera
sp, Azadirachta indica, Caryota urens, Ceiba penlandra, Coccinia
grandis, Cuscuta reflexa, Enterolobium saman, Eucalyptus sp. Ficus gihbosa.
Hibiscus tiliaceus, Hydnocarpus alpina, Hygrophila sp, lpomoea sp, Morinda
tinctoria, Polyalthia longifolia, Pongamia pinnata, Tectona grandis, Terminalia
catappa and Tinospora cordifolia. Of the above-recorded species Acanthus
ilicifolius is considered to be ‘Endangered' and Rhiziophora mucronata as
‘Vulnerable’ according to IUCN.
FAUNA
The recent studies by Jayson and
Easa (1999), Azeez, el al. (2004) and Azeez and Bhupathy (2006) recorded
a total of 6 species of mammals (Indian flying fox ( Pteropus giganteus),
painted bat ( Kerivoula pictci), three-striped palm squirrel ( Funnambulus
sublinealus ), house rat ( Rattus rattus), bandicoot rat { Bandicota
indica) and otter (Lulra sp.).
Mangalavanam is primarily
a bird refuge. A few short-term surveys/studies have been carried out in Mangalavanam
Birds Sanctuary to estimate the population of birds. Jayson and Easa
( 1999) documented the vertebrate fauna of the Mangalavanam during 1998-99 and
reported 72 species of birds. During the field survey conducted in February
2002, by Azeez et al. (2004) a total of 398 birds belonging to 62 species
were recorded [Azeez et al (2004)]. Ot this, the aquatic forms numbering
20 species contributed the majority of bird population. A survey conducted
recently by Azeez and Bhupathy (2006) in the month of May recorded 194 birds belonging
to 32 species. However, the total number of bird species recorded so far from the
area is 72. It is pointed out by Azeez and Bhupathy (2006) that a survey during
migratory seasons may add on more species to the list of birds in the area. The
number of birds observed
during the survey in 2006 is much low compared to the results obtained during the
survey in 2002.
The study by Azeezand Bhupathy (2006) recorded a total of 17 species of butterflies
in Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary .
9 species of reptiles (Cajoles versicolor, Hemidactylns
frenatus., Mabuya carinata, Sphenomorphous sp., Xenochropis piscator, Ptyrn
mucosus, Naja' nqja. Vipera russelli and Python molurns)
2 species of amphibians (7 species of
fishes (Anabas lesludines, Aplocheilus lineatus, Elroplus maculates, Ltlupins
suratensis, Monopterus fossorius, Rasbora daniconius and Sarotherodon
mossambicd). amnonectes limnocharis and Bufo melanosiictus A preliminary
study conducted by Sebastian el.al. (2005) documented the spider fauna in
Mangalavanam, an ecosensitive and threatened mangrove forest. The study could identify
51 species of spiders belonging to 40 genera and 16 families. I his represented
27% of the total families reported from India. Araneidae was the most dominant
family recording 12 species belonging to 8 genera. On species level, pisaura
gilae Tikader, 1970 was the dominant species. Guild structure analysis . revealed
seven feeding guilds, namely orb weavers, stalkers, ground hunters, foliage runners,
sheet web builders, scattered line weavers and anibushers. Orb weavers and stalkers
were the dominant feeding guilds representing 33% and 29% respectively of the
total collection. The study also reported the genus Tapponia for the
first time from India.
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