Remembering Neelakantan

A one day bird watching trip to Arippa -one of Neelakantan’s favourite spots- and a 3 day photo exhibition in the Museum Auditorium to be organised in Neelakantan’s memory| By Yentha

Trivandrum: Warblers and Waders, the City based Bird watchers and Nature lovers forum organised a one day bird watching trip to Arippa Ammayambalam Pacha (Kulathupuzha) and Kattilappara forests (Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary) in connection with Prof. K K Neelakantan’s Commemoration day.

Bird watching at Arippa

Popularly known as ‘Induchoodan’, Neelakantan was a noted ornithologist, environmentalist and literary personality. His book "Keralathile Pakshikal" (Birds of Kerala) with illustrations of 261 birds found in Kerala, is considered a unique work.


The Peacock Sanctuary at Choolannur in Palakkad district is named after him. Induchoodan was the president of Prakriti Samrakshna Samithi and led the Silent Valley Agitation during the year 1979 and pursued the study of birds until his death at 69.

Warblers and Waders, had its genesis in 1990 under the guidance of K K Neelakantan. Ever since his demise in 1992, the organisation has been observing June 14th of every year as ‘Induchoodan Commemoration Day’.

“Arippa was one among Neelakantan’s favourite bird watching spots. Some of the significant bird sightings in today’s trip were Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Green Imperial Pigeon, Racket-tailed Drongo and Malabar Grey Hornbill an endemic bird to Western Ghats,”says C Susanth, Program Coordinator.

Birdwatching group at Kattilappara shendurney WLS 

Malabar Parakeet and  Bedome’s Keel back  snake, both endemic to Western Ghats and currently on the endangered list were also observed in the Arippa forest. Significant Butterfly sightings included Southern Birdwing (Largest Butterfly in India), Malabar Rose (threatened butterfly endemic to Western Ghats), Great Orange Tip and White Bar Bush Brown.

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