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.
