Biodiversity of Honavar

The Sharavathi River rises near Tirthahalli, plunges over Jog Falls and runs about 128 km to meet the Arabian Sea at Honavar. In that short distance it links two of India's richest ecosystems: the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and global biodiversity hotspot, with the productive Kanara coast.

On the sand spit at Tonka, Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore at night to nest. Along the river, mangroves shelter crabs, mudskippers and young fish. Inland, the rainforests of Uttara Kannada hold the northernmost population of lion-tailed macaques, along with hornbills, rare frogs and swamp forests that have survived for thousands of years.

Much of what we know comes from scientists at the Indian Institute of Science, CMFRI, SACON, ATREE and Karnatak University, as well as the Karnataka Forest Department and local fishing families. Each page below lists the research it draws on.

Stay off nests and fenced areas on the beach. Never use torches or flash near turtles at night.

Take your plastic back with you. Better still, join Saturdays for the Sea: a free walk from Tonka Beach to the estuary every Saturday at 4 pm from October to May, followed by a beach clean-up.

Walk the mangrove boardwalk quietly. In the forest keep to trails, go with a local guide and never feed wild animals. Buy from local fishermen and farmers.