Natural vegetation and wildlife of Andhra Pradesh
The state of
Natural vegetation
The total forest cover of Andhra Pradesh is 22,862 km2.[2] The Eastern Ghats region is home to dense tropical forests, while the vegetation becomes sparse as the Ghats give way to the Deccan Plateau, where shrub vegetation is more common.
Fauna
The varied diversity of fauna includes Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, hyenas, blackbucks, sambars, and sea turtles. The dense forests in mountains offer habitat to the wildlife. The state government declared certain areas as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.[2]
National parks and zoo parks
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is located in Visakhapatnam. It is one of the largest zoos of India, spread over an area of 625 acres (253 ha). It was named after Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India and was opened in 1977. There are eighty species with 800 animals. Hippopotamus and crocodiles are the special animals conserved.[2]
Wildlife sanctuaries
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located in East Godavari district in an area of 235.70 km2 (91.00 sq mi). It has the rare, endangered smooth Indian otter, fishing cat and estuarine crocodile. Other fauna are jackals, marine turtles, seagulls, storks, ducks and flamingos.[4]
Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in an area 6.14 km2 (2.37 sq mi). It is the only habitat in the state for the rare and highly endangered great Indian bustard. The blackbuck, wolf, jackal, bonnet macaque, Russell's viper and cobra are also found.[6]
Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh. It covers an area of 1030.85 km2 is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department[7]
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is only one Asian elephant reserve in Andhra Pradesh. The sanctuary is bordered by the state of Tamil Nadu.
Bird sanctuaries
Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries are located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Every year, over 3,000 pelicans and painted storks visit from Siberia to these villages during September and stay until March.[13][14]
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary is a famous 481 km2 Protected area in Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh state. Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish-water ecosystem in India. Central location is: 13°34′N 80°12′E. 327.33 km2 is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department[15] and 153.67 km2 is managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. 108 km2 is national park area. Rainfall ranges from 800 to 2000 mm. Temperature varies from 14 °C to 33 °C. Altitude ranges from 100’ MSL to 1200’ MSL.
See also
References
- ^ "District-wise forest cover". Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Andhra Forest Department". 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "PAPIKONDA Wildlife Sanctuary". AP forest department. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary". AP forest deparmtnet. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ISBN 978-81-7371-285-2.
- ^ "Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary". AP forest department. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.Sri Penusula Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary
- ^ Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.Gundla Brahmeswara Wildlife Sanctuary
- ^ Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.Sri Lankamalleshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary". AP forest department. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Atapaka sanctuary". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Pelicans breed in Kolleru lake". Times of India. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Sites – Important Bird Areas (IBAs)". BirdLife International. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ^ Sumit Bhattacharjee (10 April 2006). "A 12,000 km flight from Siberia". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 April 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ^ Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, PULICAT Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2014-01-25 at the Wayback Machine