Kannur: Mangrove crusader and environmentalist Kallen Pokkudan passed away at a private hospital here on Sunday. He was 85.
Pokkudan, known as Kandal Pokkudan, had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.
He was born at Ezhom near Pazhayangadi in 1930.
Kallen Pokkudan had been working for the protection of mangrove forests since 1989, and authored several books on mangroves. His autobiography is titled 'Kandalkkadukalkidayil Ente Jeevitham'.
He planted thousands of mangrove saplings in his nearby wetlands in a mission to save the environment. His initiative had spread a revolution among the state and accentuated the importance of environment conservation.
A winner of 'Vanamithra' and 'Haritha Vyakthi' awards by Kerala Government for his environmental crusade, Pokkudan had also acted in a feature film, 'Papilio Buddha' directed by US-based Malayalee filmmaker Jaya Cherian.