Thrissur Kole Wetlands

Thrissur Kole Wetlands (Thrissur Kole padam) is a unique wetlands lying in Thrissur District in Kerala, India. It gives “40 percent” of the Kerala’s rice requirement and acts as a natural drainage system for Thrissur city. The Kole Wetlands is one of largest, highly productive and threatened wetlands in Kerala and has been declared in Ramsar Convention for protection and it comes in Central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.

The Kole Wetlands cover an area about 13,632 hectares spread over Thrissur  to Malappuram district. The area extends from Chalakudy River in South to Bharathappuzha River in North and to Ponnani Taluk.

Puzhakkal River, one of the rivers which go through the Kole Wetlands and provide water for rice cultivation

Thrissur Kole Wetlands is the third largest in India after Chilika Lake in Orissa and Amipur Tank in Gujarat in bird population. It have been recognized as India's 'Important Bird Areas' by Birdlife International. According to the studies, there are actually 241 species of birds like Spot-billed Pelican, Darter, Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Black-bellied Tern, Cinereous Vulture and Greater Spotted Eagle. Fish species like Caranx, Cyprinidae, Mangrove red snapper, Megalops cyprinoides and Barramundi are also found in Kole Wetland.