Flora and Fauna

There is an abundance of wild and marine life her. Though wild elephants and bisons are occasionally seen in the forests, tigers and leopards are rare.

Barking deer, Mouse deer, Mountain lizards, Malabar squirrels, black and grey monkeys, hares and porcupines are found in the forests here. The avions are well represented by horn bills, peacocks, jungle fowls, thrushes, pigeons, sunbirds, kingfishers, wood peckers, paradise fly catches, parrots, mynahs, king crows, tailed drangos etc. Snakes, poisonous and non poisonous, are seen in the forests in fairly large numbers, Pythons are also common.

The natural forests fall under three main categories; the southern tropical moist deciduous, western tropical wet ever green and semi evergreen.

The principal tropical moist deciduous forest species are Terminalia Paniculata, Dillenia, Pentagyna, Miliusa Veutina, Schrebra Suretenoides (all inhabiting species) etc; Bamboods Bambusa, Arundanaclac, Callicarpalanta, Cacsalpintia Minussoides etc. (under growth); Butea Parviflora, Celastrus Paniculaters (Climbers) etc.

The principal western tropical wet evergreen species are pakquium ellipticum, Salmalia, Malabarica, Mappila Foetida (inhabiting species top canopy layer) Canarium Strictum, Chrysophyllum Rexhurghi, Oleadiocea, Canes, wild arrow roots, screwpines etc.

The important rivers of the district are the following:

1.  The Mahe river

The Mahe river, also called the Mayyazhippuzha, originates from the forests on the western slopes of the Wayanad hills which form part of the Western Ghats. This river flows through the villages of Narippetta, Vanimel, Iyyancode, Bhekiyad, Iringanoor, Tripangathur, Peringalam, Edachery, Kacheri, Eramala, Kariyyad, Olavilam; Kunnamakkara, Azhiyoor and Mahe, before emptying into the Arabian Sea at the former French Settlement of mahe, about 6 kms. South of Thalassery. The length of the river is about 54 kms. And it flows through an area of 394 sq.kms.

2.  The Murad (Kuttiady) river

The Murad river, also known as the Kuttiady river, takes its origin from the Narikkotta ranges on the western slopes of the Wayanad hills, a part of Westerm Ghats. This river flows through Vadakara, Koyilandy and Kozhikode Taluks. It empties into the Arabian Sea at the historical Kottakkal fort, 7 kms. South of Vadakara. This river has a length of 74 kms. And along with its tributaries it lows through an area of 583 sq.kms.

The Onipuzha, the Thottilpalampuzha, the Kadiyangad puzha, the Vamathil puzha and the madappallippuzha are the major tribtaris of Murad river. It passes through oorakuzhi, Kuttiady, Tiruvallur, Muyipoth, Maniyur and Karuvancheri.

3.  The Korapuzha

Formed by the confluence of two streams called Punnurpuzha and Agalapuzha, this river and it is main tributaries are tidal in their lower reaches. The Agalapuzha is more or less a backwater, while the Punnurpuzha originates from Arikkankunnu. The Agalapuzha forms a part of the important West Coast Inland Navigation System. There is heavy traffic through this river connecting all important industrial towns lying in the coastal areas such as Vadakara, Kozhikode, Kallai, beypore etc. The total length of the river is 40 kms. With a drainage area of 624 sq.kms.

4.  The Kallai river

The river has its origin from Cherukulathur village and it is connected to the Chaliyar on the south by a man-made canal. The river passes through Cherukulathur, Kovur, Olavanna, Manava and Kallai before finally joining the Arabian Sea at Kozhikode. The length of the river is 22 kms. And it has a drainage area of 96 sq.kms.

Though small in size, the kallai is one of the most important rivers in the entire State from the commercial point of view, Kallai, a main centre of timber trade, is situated on its banks.

5.  The Chaliyar river

Known in the lower reaches as the Beypore river, this is one of the major rivers of the State. The lower reaches form part of the West Coast Inland Navigation system.

It originates from the Illambalari hills in Gudalur taluk of Nilgiri district in Tamil Nadu. The Chalippuzha, the Punnapuzha, the Pandiyar, the Karimpuzha, the Vadapurampuzha, the Iringipuzha and the Iruthilpuzha are its important tributaries.

As an interstate river, this has a total drainage area of 2923 sq.kms, of which 2535 sq.kms. lie in Kerala and the rest, 388 sq.kms. in Tamil Nadu. With a length of 169 kms., the Chaliyar river flows through Nilambur, Mambad, Edavanna, Areecode and Vazhakkad in Malappuram district and Feroke in Kozhikode district before it joins the Arabian Sea near Beypore.

6.  The Kadalundi river

This river is formed by the confluence of its two main tributes, the Olipuzha and the Veliyar. The Olipuzha takes its origin from the Cherakkombanmala and the Veliyar from the forests of Erattakombanmala. The total length of this river is 130 kms, with a drainage area of 1,099 sq.kms. The river flows towards the Chaliyar and joins the Arabian Sea at about 5 kms. south of the Chaliyar river mouth.

The Pooraparamba river, a small stream, is also included in this basin, as its length is only 8 kms. With a drainage area of 23 sq.kms. The total drainage area of the basis is thus 1122 sq.kms.

The Kadalundi river, also known by the names, Karimpuzha and Oravanpurampuzha, is important from the navigation point of view.

Forests

The total area under forests in Kozhikode district is estimated at 291.23 sq.kms. ie., Reserve Forests 86.14 sq.kms. and Vested Forests 205.9 sq.kms. The breakup is as below.

The forests spread over the north eastern portion of the district.

The Kozhikode Territorial Division comprises of three forest ranges, viz; Thamarassery, Peruvannamuzhy and Kuttiady. Kozhikode taluk comes under the Range Officer, Thamarassery, whereas Koyilandy and Vadakara come under Range Officers, Peruvannamuzhy and Kuttiady respectively. One timber depot is also functioning at Chaliyam of Kadalundy Panchayat. Rosewood and teak brought from Wayanad, Nilambur, Palakkad etc. are the main timber available at this depot.

Forest Complex

There is a Forest Complex, by name Vanasree, at Mathottom in Beypore panchayat just five kms. Away from the city which accommodates the Regional Conservator of forests and three other conservators i.e., territorial, social forestry and Vigilance.

Crocodile Farm

The Forest Department is maintaining a crocodile farm at Peruvannamuzhy near the dam site.

Bird Sanctuary

There is also a proposal for a bird sanctuary at Kadalundy. The State Wild Life Board has approved the scheme. The proposed site is the Kadalundy river mouth which is being visited by many migratory birds in summer.

Population

The population of the district as per 2001 Census is 28,78,498; males – 1398674 and females 14,79,824. Density of population per sq.kms. is 1,228. The population of the district has increased from 26,13,683 in 1991 to 28,78,498 in 2001 registering a decade increase of 10.13 per cent. The District has an urban population of 11,00,946 and a rural population of 17,77,552. Kozhikode Corporation is the only Municipal Corporation in the District has a population of 4,36,527 with 2,11,785 males and 22,4742 females. The city Corporation covers an area of 82.68 sq.kms. The population of Vadakara Municipality is 68,970, males 32,923 and females 36,047 Vadakara municipality has an area of 21.33 sq.kms. The population of Koyilandy Municipality is 75740, (36457 males and 39283 females). This Municipality has an area of 21.61 sq.kms. The total geographical area of the district according to village records is 23,33,330 hectares. Distribution of area on the basis of land utilization is as below: