KatherinDenmark at 06:56, 22 February 2026

2026-02-22T06:56:05Z

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{{Short description|Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = IV
| image = Coringa_Wildlife_Sanctuary_1.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The Godavari Estuary in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
| image_size =
| map = India Andhra Pradesh#India
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, India
| map_width =
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| location = [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Kakinada]]
| coordinates = {{coord|16|49|53|N|82|20|12|E|region:IN|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = <ref name="IBA" />
| area = {{convert|235.7|km2|acre|abbr=on}}
| established = {{start date|df=yes|1978|7|5}}
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Andhra Pradesh Forest Department]]
| world_heritage_site =
| url = {{URL|https://coringasanctuary.com}}
| area_km2 = 235.7
}}
[[File:Mangroves map of Andhra Pradesh.png|thumb|280px|Map of Mangroves in Andhra Pradesh]]
'''Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary''' is an [[estuary]] situated near [[Kakinada]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wildlifeinindia.in/images/coringa.html |title= Wildlife in India |publisher=Wildlifeinindia.in |access-date=2012-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forest.ap.nic.in/WL%20CORINGA.htm|title=Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary|publisher=Andhra Pradesh Forest Department|access-date=2012-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125005418/http://forest.ap.nic.in/WL%20CORINGA.htm|archive-date=25 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
It is the third largest stretch of [[mangrove]] [[forests]] in India with 24 mangrove tree species and more than 120 bird species. It is home to the [[critically endangered]] [[white-backed vulture]] and the [[Indian vulture|long billed vulture]].<ref name="IBA" /> Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone, with a dense tangle of prop roots that make the trees appear to be standing on stilts above the water. This tangle of roots allows the trees to handle the daily rise and fall of tides; hence, the mangrove forest gets flooded at least twice per day. The roots also slow the movement of tidal waters, causing sediments to settle out of the water and build up the muddy bottom.

It also stabilizes the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. The intricate root system of the mangrove also makes the forest attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.

==Geography==
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is
8 km from the port city of [[Kakinada]], on the Kakinada-Yanam [[National Highway 216 (India)|National Highway 216]] in Chollangi Village, nestling on the deltaic branches of [[Godavari|Gouthami]] and [[Godavari]] Rivers at Kakinada Bay.<ref name="IBA" />

It is located between 16°-30' to 17°-00' N latitudes and 82°-14' to 82°-23'E longitudes.<ref name="EG" />

The sanctuary is a part of the [[Godavari]] [[estuary]] and has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forest.<ref name="IBA" />

About half of the area is the [[backwater (river)|backwater]], which includes a sand pit of 18 km length. The [[Koringa_River|rivers Coringa]] and Gaderu and their deltaic branches intersect the region, along with other water channels. This forms about {{Convert|335.7|km2}} of marsh vegetation.<ref name="IBA" />

The average temperature of the region is {{Convert|17-40|C}}.<ref name="IBA" />

Average rainfall is greater than 1,000 mm.<ref name="IBA" />

==Flora==
The Sanctuary in the [[estuary]] of [[Godavari|River Godavari]] has rich mangrove vegetation.<ref name="IBA" /><ref name="EG">{{cite web|url=http://eastgodavari.nic.in/touristplaces/coringa.aspx |title=Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary East Godavari District |publisher=East Godavari District Web Portal |access-date=2012-07-31}}</ref> There are thirty five [[species]] of plants belonging to twenty four families. The plant species that are commonly found are:

* ''[[Avicennia officinalis]]''
* ''[[Avicennia marina]]''
* ''[[Avicennia alba]]''
* ''[[Excoecaria agallocha]]''
* ''[[Rhizophora mucronata]]''
* ''[[Ceriops decandra]]''
* ''[[Bruguiera gymnorhiza]]''
* ''[[Lumnitzera|Lumnitzera recemosa]]''
* ''[[Sonneratia|Sonneratia apetala]]''
* ''[[Rhizophora|Rhizophora conjugata]]''
* ''[[Aegiceras corniculatum]]''
* ''[[Thespesia populneoides]]''
* ''[[Hibiscus tiliaceus]]''.<ref name="EG" />

Apart from the tree [[species]], some of the [[shrubs]] found in the sanctuary are:

* ''[[Dalbergia|Dalbergia spinosa]]''
* ''[[Derris trifoliata]]''.

Herbs like:

* ''[[Sesuvium portulacastrum]]''
* ''[[Suaeda maritima]]''
* ''[[Suaeda|Suaeda monoica]]''
* ''[[Salicornia|Salicornia brachiatta]]''

and grasses like:

* ''[[Aeluropus|Aeluropus lagopoides]]''
* ''[[Porteresia|Porteresia coarctate]]''
* ''[[Myriostachya wightiana]]''

are found in the sanctuary.<ref name="EG" />

==Fauna==
[[File:River in coringa forest.jpg|thumb|Riverfront development along Koringa river]]
The sanctuary possesses a wide variety of [[Bird|birds]], because of the feed available in the [[Backwater (river)|backwaters]] of the mangrove forest. During low tide, some of the areas are exposed (elevated mud flats) having small fishes, [[Shrimp|shrimps]] and [[Mollusca|mollusks]]. These attract avifauna for feeding. Some [[Critically endangered|critically endangered species]] like the [[white-backed vulture]] and the [[Indian vulture|long billed vulture]] are present in the sanctuary. The [[painted stork]], [[Black-headed ibis|Oriental white ibis]], [[ferruginous pochard]] found in the sanctuary are [[Near threatened|near threatened species]], and [[spot-billed pelican]] is a [[vulnerable species]]. Significant populations of [[wader]]s and mangrove birds are also present.<ref name="IBA" /> Altogether, more than 120 species of birds have been reported and among them some of the commonly found birds in the sanctuary are:

* [[little egret]]
* [[cattle egret]]
* [[pied kingfisher]]
* [[Cerulean kingfisher|small blue kingfisher]]
* [[black-capped kingfisher]]
* [[pond heron]]
* [[Western reef heron|reef heron]]
* [[grey heron]]
* [[night heron]]
* [[little stint]]
* [[sandpiper]]
* [[Common redshank|redshank]]
* [[red-wattled lapwing]]
* [[Greater coucal|crow pheasant]]
* [[flamingos]]
* [[sea gulls]]
* [[purple heron]]
* [[Brahminy kite|brahmini kite]]
* [[openbill stork]]
* [[little cormorant]].<ref name="EG" />

Apart from the avian fauna, the sanctuary has a fair population of [[golden jackal]], [[sea turtle]] and [[fishing cat]], and a healthy breeding population of [[smooth-coated otter]]. The sanctuary has an 18-km long sand pit where [[olive ridley sea turtle]]s nest from January to March every year.<ref name="IBA" /><ref name="EG" /> Efforts to reintroduce the [[saltwater crocodile]] into the sanctuary during the 1970s met with failure and the species has not been present within the sanctuary for over 30 years.

==Threats and conservation issues==
[[File:Macha the Fishing cat sculpture in Coringa reserve.jpg|thumb|Macha the Fishing cat sculpture in the Reserve]]
As it is easy to access and in close vicinity to the port town of [[Kakinada]] and nearby villages, which are largely inhabited, the [[Mangrove|mangroves]] are being exploited by the local population. A socio-economic study by the Indian Bird Conservation Network<ref name="IBA" /> found that most of the local fishermen harvest wood in the forest and depend heavily on the mangroves for their basic needs. The species ''[[Avicennia officinalis]]'' and ''[[Avicennia marina]]'' are being used for [[Wood fuel|fuelwood]].<ref name="IBA" />

The existence of [[otters]] has been hit badly because of increased [[poaching]] and [[habitat destruction]]. The increasing industrialization of the [[Godavari River|Godavari Delta]], increasing [[aquaculture]] activities and fishing pressure have severely affected the population of [[otters]]. The [[Andhra Pradesh Forest Department]] has taken steps to ensure conservation of otters and for [[afforestation]] of mangroves in the sanctuary.<ref name="IBA">{{cite web | url = http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/13-136-168-Andhra-Pradesh.pdf | title = Important Bird Areas in India - Andhra Pradesh | publisher = Indian Bird Conservation Network | access-date = 30 July 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130411070224/http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/13-136-168-Andhra-Pradesh.pdf | archive-date = 11 April 2013 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary}}

{{Protected areas of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Wildlife sanctuaries of Andhra Pradesh}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Kakinada]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1978]]

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

KatherinDenmark at 06:56, 22 February 2026