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Pulicat Sanctuary is located 60-km from
Chennai , spreading
over Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu .
It covers a total area of 500-sq-km. It is famous as the second largest
brackish water lagoon in India along the coast of Bay Bengal. Backwaters
of the sea attract large numbers of migratory water birds. It is also a
well-known feeding and breeding ground for a variety of aquatic and
terrestrial birds.
Flora
People living in the adjoining 16 islands and 30 villages are directly or
indirectly dependent on the lake for their livelihood. It supports a rich
bio-diversity. It is surrounded by southern tropical dry evergreen forest
with species like Manilkara Hexandra, Albizzia Amara, Strychnos Muxvomica,
Ficus Tiela, Dryopteris Sepiata, Pteriospermus, Uberifolium, Glaucum etc
and mangrove forest with species like Ezcocaria, Agollocha, Auicenia
Officinales, Acanthies Ilicifolius, Rhizophora Apiculata, Xylocarpus
Moluecenix, Degiceros Conrniculatum.
Fauna
The most important bird species who visit this lake is Flamingo. About
15,000 Flamingos visit Pulicat every year. Other birds found here are
Pelicans, Painted Storks, Open Billed Storks, Grey Herons, Cormorants,
White Ibises, Spoon Bills, Egrets, Reef Herons, Spot Billed Ducks, Shoe
Vellers, Pintails, Sand Pipers, Gills, and River Term etc.
Invertebrates like Prawn, Plankton and Mollusks and fishes of about 65
different species like Sable Fish, Sargin Fish, White, Black and Silver
Promphets etc. can also be seen here. One can find reptiles like Monitor
Lizard, Calotes, Cobra, Russel Viper, and Krait etc.
Rail: Nearest railway station is at
Sulurpet.
Road: By road it is about 60-km from Chennai on the
Chennai -Calcutta
. Tourists can taxis and buses from Chennai.
Inspection Bungalows are available at Sullurpet & Tada.