Kerala Island Awaits Bird Sanctuary Status

A 3.36-hectare island within Thrissur's Chettuva backwaters, home to diverse bird species, is awaiting official bird sanctuary status. While the state government initially approved this designation in 2017 and again in 2023, the forest department has only declared it a community reserve. This island is part of the Chettuva mangroves, which are the largest in Kerala and lie along the Central Asian Flyway, a major bird migration route.

Birdwatchers have observed significant avian activity, including flocks of Great Knot that travel approximately 10,000 km from Siberia, along with Straggler, Caspian Plover, and Sea Gulls. The island, located in Orumanayoor village, was earmarked for sanctuary status as early as 2017 when the revenue department agreed to transfer the land to the forest department. The surrounding waterbody is extensive, formed by the confluence of several lakes and the heritage Canoli Canal.

Conservationists emphasize the urgent need for protected sanctuary status. Thomas Lawrence from Save Wetlands International Movement (SWIM) highlighted that the island provides essential nesting, resting, and foraging opportunities for these migratory birds. He further noted that without official protection, the island and its mangroves are vulnerable to human interference. Additionally, unregulated eco-tourism poses a threat to the fragile ecosystem and contributes to the decline in mangrove cover. SWIM has reiterated its appeal to the forest minister to establish the island as a bird sanctuary, underscoring the presence of over 42 bird species, including IUCN-listed endangered ones, and 12 mangrove species.