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Location : 20-km
From Kakinada And 70-km From Rajahmundry,
East Godavari District.
Coverage Area :
235.70-Sq-km.
Main Attractions : Salt-Water
Crocodiles.
Best Time To Visit : October to
May.
Accommodation : Forest rest
house at Coringa & Rajahmundry.
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.
Flora :
Mangroves are a group of salt tolerant plant species, which occur in the
tropical and subtropical initial estuary regions. Mangroves constitute a
dynamic ecosystem with a complex association of both floral and faunal
species of terrestrial and aquatic systems and the vegetation in this
forest is of evergreen type.
Mangroves provide different kind of niches for a variety of animal
populations required. The crowns of trees including trunk, branches,
leaves, flowers and fruits provide niches essentially, to terrestrial
fauna like birds, mammals and insects. The Soil Surface of mangroves
provides niche for mudskippers, crabs and molluscs. The Sanctuary has a
unique distinction of having an 18-km long sand spit in the North
Eastern side, where the species of olive Ridley sea turtle (endangered
species) nests during January-March of every year.
Fauna :
The habitat is suitable for the salt-water crocodiles. The water in the
forest supports a variety of animals. One can find animals like the
Fishing Cats, Otters, Jackals, Estuarine Crocodiles, Sea Turtles and
birds like Sea gulls, Pelicans, Storks, Herons, Snipes, Ducks and
Flamingos. The main species of mangrove forest are Rhizophora, Avincinia,
Sonneratia Aegiceros.
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