Kasaragod district becomes the first district in the country to officially declare its own tree, flower, bird and species. The decision is a testament to the region’s rich biodiversity and natural heritage.
the official tree of the district
The official tree of the district is ‘Kanjiram’ (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn), a species taking its name from ‘kasara’, meaning wormwood.
The district bird
The district bird is the White Bellied Sea Hawk and is native to the region spanning from Mahe to Manjeswaram. The White Bellied Sea Hawk is placed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Kasaragod selected the Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle, locally known as ‘Bheemanama’, as the district species. This is a rare species which has been listed on the Red List of Endangered Freshwater Turtles. It also depends on estuaries for laying eggs, making its conservation particularly critical.
The district flower, ‘Periya Polathali’ or Crinum malabarica, with its distinctive white flowers tinged with red. It can be found exclusively in the streams originating from the laterite hills in Kasaragod.