Kolavipalam Beach

Kolavipalam Beach, also known as Turtle Beach, is located near Vadakara in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. It is a 4-km stretch of coastal sandy beach and brackish mud flats, surrounded by coconut groves and home to many marine birds due to the presence of mangroves in the brackish water estuarine regions. The beach is also known for being the nesting site of Olive Ridley turtles during September. Historically, it is the birthplace of Kunhali Marakkar, a famous maritime warrior of Kerala during the rule of the Zamorins. The local community has been recognized for its efforts in environmental protection, including protecting turtle nesting and undertaking mangrove afforestation. The beach can be reached by private buses or trains to the nearby town of Payyoli, but transportation to the beach is irregular.

How to Reach Kolavipalam?

Kolavipalam beach is very close to Payyoli beach, which is around 4 kms away from Kottakkal in the Kozhikode district.
Closest: railway station: Payyoli
Closest: bus stand: Payyoli
Closest: airports: Calicut International Airport and Kannur International Airport
Closest: police station: Payyoli
Closest: Fire Station: Vadakara

Kolavipalam Beach Details

Located in the coastal region of Kerala, this area encompasses a typical coastal ecosystem, including an estuarine region in the north and an 8-km stretch of coastal village commons facing the Arabian Sea on one side and the Kottapuzha river on the other. The area also features a 4-km stretch of sandy beach and brackish mud flats, where mangroves grow and attract a variety of marine birds. Additionally, turtles come to nest along the 8-km stretch of beach from the Kottapuzha estuary in the north to Payyoli beach in the south. The area experiences an average annual rainfall of 3,500 mm and temperatures ranging from 20-34 degrees C.

The natural wildlife in this area includes jackals, various migratory and local birds, and Olive Ridley turtles that visit the beach during their nesting season. Among these, Olive Ridley turtles are facing a threat to their survival as a result of both losses of eggs and the destruction of their habitat.

Kolavipalam Turtle Breading Centre

Kolavipalam beach, also known as “Turtle Beach”, is situated south of the Murad River and 30km north of Calicut. The beach is a popular spot for Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), which are endangered by activities such as sand mining.

September marks the beginning of turtle season, where these creatures can be observed on the beach searching for locations to lay and hatch their eggs. Since the 1990s, the local community, including children, has been actively working to protect endangered turtles and addressing issues such as land erosion caused by industrial activities. The turtles come back to the same areas to lay their eggs, but changes to the topography can cause confusion for them. Kolavipalam beach is a popular spot for Olive Ridley turtles, a small marine species. Visitors come during September to observe the turtles and their breeding habits, and to see the location that is known for providing a safe breeding ground for them. The breeding season for turtles runs from September to March, during which they come closer to the shore to lay eggs late at night and early morning.

Recently, it was reported that a group of nature enthusiasts released 831 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings into the sea at a palm grove in Kolavipalam. The group, “Theeram Nature Conservation Society,” had collected over 1,200 eggs laid by 11 turtles during the nesting season. The local community in Kolavipalam has been making efforts to raise awareness among residents and fishers about the importance of protecting these turtles from threats such as illegal sand mining and plastic waste. The state government is also focusing on preserving the natural breeding grounds of turtles to conserve their population.

Visitors can go to the conservation hatchery and observe the baby turtles before they are released into the sea. The community of Kolavipalam in Kozhikode, Kerala are working to preserve the marine ecology of their area through a novel initiative to protect turtles, an endangered species. The “turtle beach” conservation project has been providing crucial support for the preservation of turtles. Through the years, conservation efforts led by the local residents have grown into a large movement and the activities of the conservationists in the area are now being closely monitored by the international community. Furthermore, it has become a main center of attraction for children from around 250 schools in the area.

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