|
|
Coringa Sanctuary is located near
Kakinada port in East Godavari
District along Bay of Bengal. It is at a distance of 20-km from Kakinada
and 70-km from Rajahmundry by
road. It is renowned for reptiles and the most famous ones are the
salt-water crocodiles. The total area of sanctuary is part of delta of the
river Godavari. It covers a total area of 235.70-sq-km and forms a part of
the Godavari mangroves. It was declared as a sanctuary in July 1978 to
conserve the mangrove vegetation of the estuary.
Nestled In The Lap Of Nature
Mangroves are a group of salt tolerant plant species, which occur in the
tropical and subtropical initial estuary regions. Mangroves constitute a
dynamic ecosystem with a complex association of both floral and faunal
species of terrestrial and aquatic systems and the vegetation in this
forest is of evergreen type.
Mangroves provide different kind of niches for a variety of animal
populations required. The crowns of trees including trunk, branches,
leaves, flowers and fruits provide niches essentially, to terrestrial
fauna like birds, mammals and insects. The Soil Surface of mangroves
provides niche for mudskippers, crabs and molluscs. The Sanctuary has a
unique distinction of having an 18-km long sand spit in the North Eastern
side, where the species of olive Ridley sea turtle (endangered species)
nests during January-March of every year.
Fauna
The habitat is suitable for the salt-water crocodiles. The water in the
forest supports a variety of animals. One can find animals like the
Fishing Cats, Otters, Jackals, Estuarine Crocodiles, Sea Turtles and birds
like Sea gulls, Pelicans, Storks, Herons, Snipes, Ducks and Flamingos. The
main species of mangrove forest are Rhizophora, Avincinia, Sonneratia
Aegiceros.
Air: Nearest Airport is at
Rajahmundry.
Rail: Nearest railway station is at
Kakinada.
Road: It is well connected by State buses.
Forest Rest House, Coringa