Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

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.