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Total
Coverage Area: 235 sq kms/23,500 ha
Established in: 1978 as a Sanctuary
Location: It is located in East Godavari district, 20 km.
from Kakinada and 70km. from Rajahmundry.
Description:
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.
Visiting Season:
October to May.
Access:
By Air: Nearest Airport is at Rajahmundry(70 kms).
By Rail: Nearest railway station is at Kakinada- 20 km.
By Road: It is at a distance of 70kms from Rajahmundry and
20 kms from Kakinada by road. It is well connected by
state buses.
Temperature:
The area is slightly more temperature compared to the
other sanctuaries of Andhra Pradesh and the so it is more
humid.
Accommodation and facilities:
Forest Rest Houses are available at Kakinada & Rajhmundry.
Wildlife
Flora:Coringa wildlife sanctuary is part of the Godavari
mangroves. Thirty-five mangrove plant species belonging to
24 families are present in the sanctuary.
Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba,
Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizopora mucronata, Ceriops
decandra, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Lumnitzera racemosa,
Sonneratia apetala, Rhizophora conjugata, Aegiceras
corniculatum, Thespesia populneoides, Hibiscus tiliaceous
Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis and Avicennia alba
representing the family Avicenniaceae and Excoecaria
agallocha belonging to Euphorbiaceae are dominant. The
mangrove plants exhibit interesting adaptations such as
stilt roots as in Rhizophora, Pneumatophores (respiratory
roots) in Avicennia and Sonneratia, viviparous seedlings
in Rhizophora, Bruguiera and Ceriops. Apart from the
trees, shrubs, herbs & grasses are also found in the
sanctuary including Dalbagia spinosa, Derris trifoliate,
Acanthus ilicifolius, Clerodendrum inerme, Suaeda maritima,
Suaeda monoica, Porteresia coarctata, Myriostachya
wightiana.
Mammals Mangroves provide shelter to a variety of animals.
The tree trunk, branches & leaves house the avian fauna,
mammals and insects. The soil surface of mangroves is home
to Mudskippers, Crabs and Molluscs. The water in the
forest supports Smooth Indian Otters, Fishing Cat. The
sanctuary has the unique distinction of having an 18 km
long sand path in the northeastern side, where Olive
Ridley-Sea Turtle nest from January to March every year.
Birds: There are more than 125 species of birds in Coringa
including Crested Serpant Eagle, Scarlet Minivet, Indian
Roller, Black capped Kingfisher, Oriental Dwarf
Kingfisher, White bellied Woodpecker etc. So bird watchers
can look forward to a busy and happy time.
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