Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is one of the Wildlife Sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh. It is located in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. It is approximately 20 km (12.42 miles) away from Kakinada, Headquarters of East Godavari District.
History of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
History of the CWS starts from the year 1978. This wildlife sanctuary was established by government of Andhra Pradesh on July 5, 1978. At present this sanctuary is under the governance of Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.
Geographical Location of CWS
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is geographically located on the Kakinada-Yanam state highway, 20 km away from Kakinada city. Deltaic branches of Gouthami and Godavari Rivers flows through this sanctuary. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Godavari estuary comprising extensive mangroves and dry deciduous tropical forest etc. Coringa and Gaderu rivers and their branches intersect the sanctuary area. The CWS covers an area of 235.7 sq km (91 sq miles) in the marshlands formed due to the rivers and their branches flowing through the sanctuary. Half of the sanctuary area is covered by backwater of mangrove forest. The sanctuary has a sand pit of 18 km (11.18 miles) length in the back water present in its coverage area. This sanctuary is considered as the largest surviving patch of Mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh.
Flora and Fauna at CWS
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary area covered by deciduous forests and mangroves is a home for different varieties of plants, birds and wild animals. Floristic combination of this sanctuary includes mangrove vegetation comprising thirty five species of plants belonging to twenty four families. Few of the important plant species found in the sanctuary area include Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba, Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops decandra, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Lumnitzera recemosa, Sonneratia apetala, Rhizophora conjugata, Aegiceras corniculatum, Thespesia populneoides and Hibiscus tiliaceus. Apart from the tree and plant species, some of the shrubs found in the sanctuary include Dalbegia spinosa and Derris trifoliata etc. Herbs like Sesuvium portulacastrum, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda monoica and Salicornia brachiatta were also found in this sanctuary. Grasses found in this sanctuary includes Aeluropus lagopoides, Porteresia coarctate and Myriostachya wightiana etc.
The mangrove forest spread in the CWS is a home for different varieties of birds including various endangered and near threatened species also. Ornithologists recorded occurrence of more than 120 species of birds in the sanctuary area. Few of the bird species found in this sanctuary area include little egret, cattle egret, pied kingfisher, small blue kingfisher, black-capped kingfisher, pond heron, reef heron, grey heron, night heron, little stint, sandpiper, redshank, red-wattled lapwing, crow pheasant, flamingos, sea gulls, purple heron, brahmini kite, openbill stork, and little cormorant etc. Near threatened bird species found in the sanctuary area include painted stork, Oriental white ibis and ferruginous pochard etc. Similarly critically endangered bird species found in the sanctuary area include white-backed vulture and long billed vulture etc. Ornithologists found significant populations of warders and mangrove birds in the sanctuary area. Mud flats elevated in the back water of the mangrove forest in the CWS during low tide period feeds different species of birds with small fishes, shrimps and molluscs during low tide period. Faunal group found in the sanctuary area include population of golden jackal, sea turtle, fishing cat, estuarine crocodile, and a healthy breeding population of smooth-coated otter etc. The 18 km long sand pit present in the sanctuary area is a nesting ground for Olive ridley sea turtles during the period of January to March every year.
Best time to visit CWS
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is open throughout the year. But the best time to visit the sanctuary is during the months of November to December. Visitors are advised to get in touch with officials of the sanctuary for complete information on boating packages, entry timings and fee etc.
Timings: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Accommodation
Authorities of the CWS have provided excellent accommodation facilities in the Forest rest house near the sanctuary area. Visitors are advised to get in touch with the authorities of the sanctuary about accommodation, tariff and other facilities.
Contact Address of CWS
Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife Management),
Rajahmundry, East Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh – 533 001
Phone: +91883-2478 643
How to reach Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
By Air: The nearest airport is in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, which is 75 km (46.6 miles) away from the sanctuary. Bus and taxi services are available to reach the sanctuary.
By Rail: There is a railway station in Kakinada, which is 20 km (12.42 miles) away from the sanctuary. Bus and Taxi services are available to reach the sanctuary from the railway station.
By Road: Bus services are available from Kakinada Bus Stand to the sanctuary, which is approximately 15 km (9.3 miles) away. |
