Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

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]

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Mangroves in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India
Location of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, India
LocationAndhra Pradesh, India
Nearest cityMachilipatnam
Coordinates15°46′27″N 80°56′39″E[1]
Area194.81 km2 (48,140 acres)
Governing bodyAndhra Pradesh Forest Department
Mangroves map of Andhra Pradesh

Geography

The sanctuary is a part of the mangrove wetland in Andhra Pradesh and are located in the coastal plain of Krishna 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.

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

The estuary of Krishna River passes through the sanctuary, and the mangroves line the estuary. It is believed that this region potentially holds one of the most significant populations of fishing cats in the world and yet, no concrete surveys on fishing cats or community-based fishing cat conservation efforts have been carried out here.[4] The area has the potential to become world's first reserve for a few of the IUCN identified endangered species including the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) or better known locally as bavuru pilli.[5]

Some of the tree species found in the 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.

Sykes's warbler Hippolais rama in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

The sanctuary is home to reptiles including the garden lizard, wall lizard and tortoise.

Snakes

Snakes of the area include:[6]

Common nameFormal nameStatus      Common nameFormal nameStatus
Indian pythonPython molurus-      Common cobraNaja naja-
Common sand boaEryx conicus-      Russell's viperVipera russelli-
John's sand boaEryx johnii-      Saw-scaled viperEchis carinatus-
Common wolf snakeLycodon aulicus-      Bamboo pit viperTrimeresurus gramineus-
Common kukri snakeOligodon arnensis-      Shaw's wolf snakeLycodon striatusrare
Striped keelback snakeAmphiesma stolata-      Twin-spotted wolf snakeLycodon jararare
Chequered keelback snakeFowlea piscator-      Gunther's racerArgyrogena gracilisrare
Common trinket snakeElaphe helena-      Smooth snakeCoronella brachyurarare
Rat snakePtyas mucosus-      Painted bronzebackDendrelaphis pictusrare
Common Indian bronzebackDendrelaphis tristis-      Condanorus sand snakePsammophis condanarusrare
Common green whip snake / Asian vine snakeAhaetulla nasuta-      Stout sand snakePsammophis longifronsrare
Common cat snakeBoiga trigonata-      King cobraOphiophagus hannahrare
Common kraitBungarus caeruleus-      

The amphibian fauna present in the sanctuary include the common frog, the otter and the saltwater crocodile.

The herbivorous species present are spotted deer, sambar and black buck.

Other species found in the sanctuary are hyena, jungle cat, fox and bear.

Avifauna include crested serpent eagle, Indian roller, wagtails and pipits.

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See also
  • Wildlife in India

References
  1. "ATLAS OF MANGROVE WETLANDS OF INDIA" (PDF). Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  2. "APFD Website". Forest.ap.nic.in. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  3. Reddy, P Laxma (24 February 2014). "Wetlands Shrink to 17K Acres in Krishna District". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. Appel, Angie. "Fishing Cat Working Group". www.fishingcat.org. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  5. http://www.fishingcat.org/fishing-cat-resources-1.html
  6. Gupta, Harsh K.; Parasher-Sen, Aloka; Balasubramanian, Dorairajan (2000). Deccan Heritage. Hyderabad, India: Universities Press. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-81-7371-285-2.
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