The study was conducted from November 1998 through October 2003. The Kole wetland is one of the largest and highly productive wetlands and it is one of the most threatened wetland in the state. Etymology of "Kole" refers to the peculiar type of paddy cultivation carried out from December to May and this Malayalam word indicates bumper yield of high returns if in case floods do not damage the crops. Agriculture is the major occupation of the people of Kole wetlands and ninety per cent people were practicing agriculture mostly paddy.