Biodiversity Profile

East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) are profoundly known for its unique characteristics of sewage fed wetlands which are naturally nursing the piscicultural as well as agricultural activities and in turn enhancing livelihood in greater extent.
This manmade wetland undreamed off and serving enormously for the ecological balance of the entire city and considered as the kidney of Kolkata. During the recent time the wetlands are facing tremendous threat due to natural as well as anthropogenic impacts. The EKW is designed wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention, however no comprehensive baseline data on the floral and faunal communities of this vulnerable ecosystem. Hence ZSI has initiated to compile all the existing information about EKW as well as collecting further details by conducting exploratory surveys in collaboration with Botanical Survey of India to document its biodiversity. A total of 1924 species including 1287 species of fauna and 637 species of flora have been documented.

Diversity of East Kolkata Wetlands

  • 1924 Total Species Recorded
  • 1287 Faunal Groups
  • 637 Floral Groups

Faunal Diversity

Total: 1287 species

The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) support a rich faunal diversity with 1,287 recorded species spanning a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Invertebrates dominate the fauna, with moths (205 species), orthopterans (92 species), birds (87 species), fishes (79 species), and beetles (77 species) being particularly diverse groups. The wetlands also harbor significant populations of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, reflecting the ecological complexity of the ecosystem. As a Ramsar-recognized wetland, EKW provides critical habitat for numerous species and plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the region.

# Group Species Contribution
1Protozoa: Free-living Ciliates22
2Protozoa: Free-living Testate Amoebae42
3Rotifera37
4Nematoda36
5Acari: Mites50
6Arachnida: Spiders32
7Crustacea: Cladocera25
8Crustacea: Ostracoda3
9Crustacea: Copepoda9
10Crustacea: Crabs and Shrimps24
11Apterygota55
12Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies27
13Orthoptera: Grasshoppers and Crickets92
14Isoptera: Termites7
15Hemiptera: Terrestrial45
16Hemiptera: Aquatic and semi aquatic bugs32
17Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ants50
18Hymenoptera: Vespidae11
19Hymenoptera: Chalicididae11
20Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae17
21Coleoptera: Beetles77
22Lepidoptera: Butterflies75
23Lepidoptera: Moths205
24Diptera: True flies64
25Molluscs: Gastropods and Bivalves22
26Pisces: Fishes79
27Herpetofauna: Amphibians and Reptiles39
28Aves: Birds87
29Mammalia: Mammals13

Floral Diversity

Subtotal: 637

The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) support a diverse floral community with 637 recorded species, reflecting the ecological richness of this wetland ecosystem. The flora is dominated by vascular plants (381 species), followed by freshwater algae (130 species), which play a vital role in primary productivity and nutrient cycling. Other important floral groups include agro-flora (60 species), macro-fungi (50 species), and bryophytes (16 species). Together, these plant and fungal communities contribute significantly to habitat formation, ecosystem stability, and the overall biodiversity of the East Kolkata Wetlands.

# Group Species Contribution
1 Macro-fungi 50
2 Freshwater Algae 130
3 Bryophytes 16
4 Agro-flora 60
5 Flora 381