Home / Environment / Thiruvananthapuram Sparrows Vanish: Urban Growth Blamed
Thiruvananthapuram Sparrows Vanish: Urban Growth Blamed
22 Mar
Summary
- Sparrow count dropped from 262 in 2025 to just 109 this year.
- Traditional habitats like Nedumangad market show no sightings.
- Urbanization and loss of nesting sites are blamed for the decline.
The house sparrow population in Thiruvananthapuram has seen a sharp decline, with a recent survey by the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) recording only 109 birds this year, down from 262 in 2025. Key urban and suburban areas, including Shanghumughom and the Medical College campus, reported no sightings.
Traditional habitats like Nedumangad market and Vettucaud, once home to stable sparrow populations, have fallen silent. While the coastal belt, including Poonthura and Beemapally, showed some nesting activity, even these numbers have sharply decreased.
Conservationists point to rapid urbanization, demolition of nesting sites, food scarcity, and competition from pigeons as primary causes. They urge immediate action, including installing sparrow-friendly nest boxes and raising public awareness, to prevent the bird's extinction in the city.
