Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

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Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
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Mangroves in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Location of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh
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Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary
Location Andhra Pradesh, India
Nearest city Machilipatnam
Coordinates 15°46′27″N80°56′39″E / 15.77417°N 80.94417°E / 15.77417; 80.94417 [1]
Area194.81 km2 (48,140 acres)
Governing body Andhra Pradesh Forest Department
Mangroves map of Andhra Pradesh Mangroves map of Andhra Pradesh.png
Mangroves map of Andhra Pradesh

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary located in Andhra Pradesh, India. [2] It is one of the rarest eco-regions of the world because it harbors vast tracts of pristine mangrove forests. It is believed by conservationists to be one of the last remaining tracts of thick primary mangrove forests of South India, which is rapidly disappearing due to absence of protective measures. [3]

Contents

Geography

The sanctuary is a part of the mangrove wetland in Andhra Pradesh and are located in the coastal plain of Krishna River delta. The Krishna mangroves lie between 15° 2' N and 15° 55' N in latitude and 80° 42'- 81° 01' E in longitude spread across Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh. [4] It includes Sorlagondi Reserve Forest, Nachugunta Reserve Forest, Yelichetladibba Reserve Forest, Kottapalem Reserve Forest, Molagunta Reserve Forest, Adavuladivi Reserve Forest and Lankivanidibba Reserve Forest. They occupy the islands of the delta and the adjacent mainlands of Krishna and Guntur Districts. A part of the mangroves is located far from the main mangrove area. This unconnected regions lies near Machilipatnam on its eastern side and Nakshatranagar on its western side.

Flora and fauna

Sykes's warbler (Hippolais rama) in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Sykes's Warbler (Hippolais rama) W IMG 6807.jpg
Sykes's warbler (Hippolais rama) in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Some of the tree species in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary are: Casuarina equisetifolia , Pongamia gladra, Calotropis gigantea , Cassia auriculata , Thespesia populnea , Ipomaea biloba, Spinifex squarrosus , Spinifex littoreus , Pongamia pinnate, Prosopis juliflora , banyan, peepul, margosa, tumma, mango, palmyra.[ citation needed ]

Fishing cats were recorded between November 2013 and August 2014 at several locations outside Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary. [5]

Snakes

Snakes of the area include: [6]

Common nameFormal nameStatus      Common nameFormal nameStatus
Indian python Python molurus -      Common cobra Naja naja
Common sand boa Eryx conicus       Russell's viper Vipera russelli
John's sand boa Eryx johnii       Saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus
Common wolf snake Lycodon aulicus       Bamboo pit viper Trimeresurus gramineus
Common kukri snake Oligodon arnensis       Shaw's wolf snake Lycodon striatus rare
Striped keelback snake Amphiesma stolata       Twin-spotted wolf snake Lycodon jara rare
Chequered keelback snake Fowlea piscator       Gunther's racer Argyrogena gracilis rare
Common trinket snake Elaphe helena       Smooth snake Wallophis brachyura rare
Rat snake Ptyas mucosus       Painted bronzeback Dendrelaphis pictus rare
Common Indian bronzeback Dendrelaphis tristis       Condanorus sand snake Psammophis condanarus rare
Common green whip snake / Asian vine snake Ahaetulla nasuta       Stout sand snake Psammophis longifrons rare
Common cat snake Boiga trigonata       King cobra Ophiophagus hannah rare
Common krait Bungarus caeruleus       

The amphibian fauna present in the sanctuary include the common frog, the otter and the saltwater crocodile.[ citation needed ] The herbivorous species present are spotted deer, sambar and black buck.[ citation needed ] Other species found in the sanctuary are jungle cat, fox and bear.[ citation needed ] Avifauna include crested serpent eagle, Indian roller, wagtails and pipits.[ citation needed ]

See also

References

  1. "Atlas of Mangrove Wetlands of India" (PDF). Retrieved 30 July 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. "APFD Website". Forest.ap.nic.in. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  3. Reddy, P.L. (24 February 2014). "Wetlands Shrink to 17K Acres in Krishna District". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. "A.P.Forest Department". forests.ap.gov.in. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  5. Naidu, A.; Kantimahanti, M.; Kumar, N.P.; Thompson, K.; Sreedhar, S.S. & A. Rao (2015). "Recent records of Fishing Cat and its conservation in coastal South India". Cat News (62): 7–9.
  6. Gupta, H. K.; Parasher-Sen, A.; Balasubramanian, D. (2000). Deccan Heritage. Hyderabad, India: Universities Press. pp.  50–51. ISBN   978-81-7371-285-2.