More than 300 species of flowering plants, seven species of mangroves, seven species of figs, 16 species of snakes, 14 species of owls, 85 species of butterflies, 140 species of birds, 21 species of spiders…Kottooli wetlands, dubbed as the lungs of Kozhikode city, is home to all these and more. “It is a wonder so many species survived in Kottooly Wetlands despite all the pollution,” Mohammed Jaffer Palot from the Zoological Survey of India said with awe.
Speaking on the importance of Kottooli wetlands and the need to protect it at the World Wetland Day programme in Kozhikode on Friday, he said that it was one of the few wetlands in the State notified at the national level as it was home to a very rich biodiversity packed in just around 150 acres in the heart of a city. “This is the only place where two species of hornbill have been sighted. The wetlands form habitat for otters, jackals, bats, dragonflies, flying lizard, turtles, frogs and around 61 types of migratory birds as well,” he said.
“There are 174 points where private drains or sewage are opened into the Conolly canal, polluting the water in the canal and in turn the wetlands,” said District Collector U.V. Jose who admitted that maintaining the quality of the water in the canal and surrounding areas was a Herculean task before the authorities. “There is no short cut for this. The attitude of the public has to change and the younger generation has a major role to play in creating awareness on the matter,” he said. He called for a well-defined plan for the protection of the wetlands and the Sarovaram Biopark. Secretary of Kerala Nadhi Samrakshana Samithi T.V. Rajan spoke on steps to be taken and the administrative will that would help save the wetlands.
The World Wetlands Day was observed under the aegis of Darshanam Samaskarika Vedi with the support of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.
