Nestled at the southernmost tip of India, the Manakudy mangrove estuary and the interconnected Puthalam, Andivilai and Swamithoppu salt pans form one of Tamil Nadu’s most irreplaceable wetland landscapes. These ecosystems—stretching across estuarine waters, mangroves, mudflats and saltpans—are not only biologically vibrant but globally significant. They support migratory birds travelling thousands of kilometres along the Central Asian Flyway, serve as nurseries for marine life, buffer the coast from climate impacts, and sustain local communities who have coexisted with these waters for generations.
Yet, despite this critical importance, these habitats are under pressure—threatened by habitat modifications, invasive species, water flow disruptions, pollution, and climate-driven changes. This is a call to urgently recognize their worth and act decisively to protect them.
Manakudy Estuary
The Manakudy estuary, located where the Pazhayar River meets the Arabian Sea, is a mosaic of shallow open waters, tidal mudflats, mangroves, and marshes. With an official estimated area of approximately 430 hectares, the estuary’s hydrology supports:
- More than 200 species of birds, including one Critically Endangered, two Endangered, and several Vulnerable species.
- 95 species of fish, including migratory eels (Anguilla sp.) that depend on this estuary during critical stages of their life cycle.
- 118 plant species, 60 butterfly species, 20 reptiles, 10 mammals, and several commercially valuable aquatic species.
Its connection to both fresh and marine waters makes it a rare, representative estuarine ecosystem in India—one capable of filtering pollutants, buffering storm surges, preventing coastal erosion, and regulating microclimate.
Puthalam, Andivilai & Swamithoppu Salt Pans
Salt pans are often misunderstood as purely industrial landscapes, but here they are living ecosystems. They function as vital mudflat-like habitats for long-distance migrants, resident waterbirds, and several threatened species.
Why These Wetlands Need Protection Now
1. A Crucial Refuge Along the Central Asian Flyway
Manakudy and its surrounding salt pans act as the southernmost refuge for migratory birds arriving from as far as the Arctic Circle.
For many species—especially terns, sandpipers, plovers, flamingos and storks—losing this habitat would break a chain that spans continents.
2. A Nursery for Marine and Brackish-Water Life
The estuary serves as a spawning ground and nursery for commercially important fishes, crabs, prawns, and eels. Any disturbance to water flow, salinity or sedimentation deeply affects this breeding cycle.
3. A Shield Against Climate Impacts
Mangroves in Manakudy are natural climate defenders. They:
- Reduce shoreline erosion
- Absorb storm surges
- Stabilise sediments
- Trap carbon
- Create protective buffers during extreme rainfall and flooding events
As climate-driven weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, their role has never been more critical.
What We Need To Do
- Declaring the landscape a protected Bird Reserve either as “Bird sanctuary” or as “Conservation reserve”
- Recognize the site’s importance and notify it as a Ramsar site
- Restore mangroves and clear invasive species
- Recreate open mudflats for migratory birds
- Maintain natural water levels in salt pans
- Desilt and restore tidal channels
- Support community participation and eco-friendly livelihoods