Pretty in pink, but Malarikkal’s lilies worry ecologists
Research by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board shows that a water lily, first seen in Malarikkal following the 2018 floods, has proliferated rapidly and without control. Ecologists warn it may displace native aquatic vegetation, alter water currents, reduce sunlight penetration and increase methane from decaying matter. The bloom, however, has drawn tourists, boosting earnings for farmers, boat operators and residents.