Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a stretch of beautiful Mangrove forests located near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. This is an estuary located where river Godavari joins the backwaters from the Bay of Bengal and is a thriving breeding ground for the famous Olive Ridley turtles. The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many critically-endangered species.

Some of the species living in the Mangrove forests include the fishing cat, fiddler crabs, and black-capped kingfisher. Find more information about the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, its location, flora, and fauna here.

About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is an extensive estuary that is home to several Mangrove species and other endangered flora and fauna species. It is located in the Godavari backwaters and provides as a scenic tourist spot for travellers from around the world. Despite its ecological importance, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary faces many threats to conservation.

It is a unique wildlife sanctuary that needs to be protected and conserved for the sake of the flora and fauna species inhabiting there. Here, we have shared some more details about the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Geography

The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Andhra Pradesh, at a distance of 18 km from Kakinada city. The sanctuary is a unique location between Gouthami and Godavari's deltas near Kakinada Bay. The Coringa Wildlife sanctuary itself forms a part of the Godavari estuary.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with a range of mangrove and dry deciduous trees. With a sandpit of 18 km, the sanctuary makes up for an amazing spot to spend time with your near and dear ones on vacation.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Flora

The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is replete with mangrove forests and dry deciduous forests. The mangrove cover of this wildlife sanctuary is the third largest in India. Moreover, it is also home to the critically endangered white-black variety of vultures and the long-billed variety of vultures. There are also many varieties of birds to be found at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Here are some of the other flora species found at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Bruguiera gymnorhiza
• Avicennia officinalis
• Rhizophora conjugata
• Avicennia marina
• Excoecaria agallocha
• Rhizophora mucronata
• Avicennia alba
• Lumnitzera recemosa
• Ceriops decandra
• Sonneratia apetala

Importance of Mangroves in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is known that Mangrove forests which act as a barrier against natural atrocities such as coastal storms, high tidal waves and more. This extensive mangrove cover helps to protect the region and its inhabitants. At the same time, they create a productive ecosystem that helps supply essential nutrients to marine organisms.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Fauna

The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to an extensive variety of fauna. It includes mangrove birds, including crow pheasant, pied kingfisher, little egret, seagulls, Sandpiper, Reef heron, Purple heron, flamingos, Brahmini kite, openbill stork, and little cormorant. Here are some of the other fauna species found at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Fishing cats
• Golden jackals
• Smooth-coated otters
• Mudskippers and frogs
• Mollusks
• Shrimps
• Olive ridley sea turtles

Threats to the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

At present, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its inhabitants are certainly at some risk due to human actions. We have shared some of the many threats that the sanctuary faces here:

• Firstly, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located very close to a port city, making it easily accessible to a densely populated community. Increased human activity can be harmful at the sanctuary.
• The fishers here are overly reliant on the mangrove forests. Unsurprisingly, they use the forest's resources, such as wood and other materials, to meet their necessities.
• Increased instances of hunting and destruction of animals' natural habitats are leading to the extinction of several species of animals inside the theCoringa Wildlife Sanctuary.
• In particular, the increase in the pace of industrialization, aqua farming, and fishing are the prime responsible factors for the depletion of the otter population in the sanctuary.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Conservation

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is an important estuary that is home to hundreds of species of unique flora and fauna. As the sanctuary is facing several threats, there is an urgent need for conservation there. Here are some steps that are being taken to conserve the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

• The Andhra Pradesh government is taking steps to reduce the impact of human activities on the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its inhabitants.
• The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is tracking and stopping illegal activities in the sanctuary.
• Partnering with the World Bank and the Ministry of Environment, the government is ensuring that large-scale afforestation takes place in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

FAQs on Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Q1. Where is the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Andhra Pradesh, near the city of Kakinada. This sanctuary is home to India’s third-largest mangrove forests. The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary has around 24 mangrove species at present, along with unique 120 bird species.

Q2. What animal species are there in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary?

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several species of animals and birds. Some of the animal species at this sanctuary include Fishing cats, Golden jackals, Smooth-coated otters, Mudskippers and frogs, Mollusks, Shrimps, and Olive ridley sea turtles.

Q3. Why is the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary famous?

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its large mangrove forest cover. It is the third-largest mangrove forest in India with 24 different varieties of mangrove trees. Besides that, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to several varieties of flora and fauna.

Q4. What are the present conservation strategies at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary?

Some of the conservation strategies at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary are as follows:

• Large-scale afforestation through the assistance of the World Bank and the Ministry of Environment.
• Formation of eco-development committees to aid in the conservation of the region.
• Limiting human activities in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.