Coringa National Park
Location : East Godavari District near Kakinada port
along the Bay of Bengal..
About Coringa National Park :
Coringa sanctuary lies in the east Godavari district near Kakinada port
along the Bay of Bengal.The habitat is suitable for salt water
crocodile. The area is cut up with a number of creeks of river Godavari.
It was declared as a sanctuary in July 1978 to conserve the mangrove
vegetation of the estuary.
A part of this rich ecosystem south of Kakinada was declared as a
sanctuary in 1978: Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary. It is renowned for its
great variety of reptiles. In Coringa over 120 species of birds are
reported.
Climate in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary :
Climate is generally hot and dry except during the South-West monsoons
in the months of June-September.
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.
Best season : October to May
Accommodation :
Accommodation is available at forest rest house located at Coringa and
Rajahmundry
Getting There :
Road : Located 20 K.M from Kakinada on Kakinada-Yanam
route. It is well connected by road.
Rail : Nearest Railway station is Kakinada.
Rajahmundry is 70 km away.
