CleanupBot at 05:56, 11 December 2022

2022-12-11T05:56:53Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}{{Infobox protected area
| name = Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = IV
| photo = Migratory Birds Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary.JPG
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = Migratory birds in the Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary
| photo_width =
| map = India Telangana#India
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary in India
| map_width =
| location = [[Telangana State]], [[India]]
| nearest_city =
| coords = {{coord|17|57|52|N|78|02|22|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = <ref name = "IBCN" />
| area = {{convert|20|km2|acre|abbr=on}}
| established = {{start date and years ago|1978|6|df=y|p=y|br=y}}
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body =
| world_heritage_site =
| url =
}}

'''Manjira wildlife sanctuary''' is a [[wildlife sanctuary]] and [[reservoir]] located in the [[Sangareddy district]] of [[Telangana State]], [[India]].<ref name="APFD">{{cite web | url = http://forest.ap.nic.in/WL%20MANJIRA.htm | title = Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary | publisher = Andhra Pradesh Forest Department | accessdate = 30 July 2012 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120521235233/http://forest.ap.nic.in/WL%20MANJIRA.htm | archivedate = 21 May 2012 }}</ref>
Originally a crocodile sanctuary developed to protect the [[vulnerable species]] [[mugger crocodile]], today it is home to more than 70 species of [[birds]]. The [[reservoir]], located in the sanctuary, provides drinking water to [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[Secundarabad]].<ref name="IBCN" /><ref name="APFD" />

== Geography ==
Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the [[Medak District]] of Telangana, India, 50 km northwest of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. The sanctuary follows the course of the [[Manjira River]] for 36 km.<ref name="APFD" />

This man-made reservoir provides drinking water to [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[Secundrabad|Secunderabad]]. It has nine small islands, including Puttigadda, Bapangadda, Sangamadda and Karnamgadda. These islands contain extensive marshy fringes, which act as nesting sites for aquatic birds. Additionally, a thick cover of trees provide nesting spots for other birds.<ref name="IBCN" />

[[savanna|Dry Savannah]]-type of vegetation is found in the sanctuary. The reservoir supports both [[submergent plant|submergent]] and [[emergent plant|emergent]] types of vegetation. The plant species of ''[[Typha]]'', ''[[Ipomoea]]'' and ''[[Acacia]]'' cover the periphery of the waterline, while agricultural fields surround the reservoir and river.<ref name="IBCN">{{cite web|url=http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/13-136-168-Andhra-Pradesh.pdf |title=Important Bird Areas in India - A.P. |publisher=Indian Bird Conservation Network |accessdate=30 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411070224/http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/13-136-168-Andhra-Pradesh.pdf |archivedate=11 April 2013 }}</ref>

Average temperature of the region ranges from 15 °C-42 °C.<ref name="IBCN" /> Average rainfall of the region is 915 mm.<ref name="IBCN" />

==Flora and fauna==
'''Flora''':

This wildlife sanctuary is a [[freshwater ecosystem]]. The plant species of ''[[Typha]]'', ''[[Ipomoea]]'' and ''[[Acacia]]'' cover the periphery of the waterline, while agricultural fields surround the reservoir and the river. Some of the major plant species found are ''[[Ipomea]]'', [[Babool]], ''[[Prosopis]]'', ''[[Vallisneria]]'', ''[[Eichhornia]]'', and [[Reed (plant)|reeds]].<ref name="IBCN" /><ref name="APFD" />

'''Fauna''':

This wildlife sanctuary is a riverine habitat supporting [[mugger crocodile]], fresh water [[turtle]]s, [[prawns]], [[molluscs]], and fish like [[catla]], [[rohu]], [[murrel]], [[eel]], [[karugu]] and [[chidwa]]. Among reptiles, [[monitor lizard]], [[mugger crocodile]], [[turtle]]s and [[cobra]] are present. The [[Indian hare]], [[wild boar]], [[mongoose]] and [[jackal]] are also present.<ref name="APFD" /><ref name="Hindu" />

'''Avifauna''':

Around 73 species of birds are present in the sanctuary, including large flocks of [[common teal]], [[cotton pygmy goose]] and [[ruddy shelduck]]. A large number of [[crane (bird)|crane]]s and [[barheaded geese]] can be found upstream of the Manjeera lake. Fourteen species of birds breed in the sanctuary, including the [[Asian openbill]], [[painted stork]], [[Eurasian coot]] and [[black-crowned night heron]].<ref name="IBCN" /> Other birds found in the sanctuary include the [[little egret]], [[cormorant]], [[common pochard|pochard]], [[spoonbill]], [[brahminy duck]], [[northern pintail|pintail]], [[Kite (bird)|kite]], [[partridge]], [[quail]], and [[peacock]].<ref name="Hindu" />

In recent times, [[vulnerable species]] like [[lesser adjutant]] and [[Indian skimmer]] have been spotted at the sanctuary, as have the [[near-threatened]] species [[darter]] and [[black-headed ibis|Oriental white ibis]].<ref name="IBCN" />

==Crocodiles==
In 1974, the [[mugger crocodile]] had reached the threshold of extinction in [[Telangana]], with only four pairs of [[mugger crocodile]] remaining in the Manjira wildlife sanctuary. To conserve the mugger crocodile, the [[Andhra Pradesh Government]] established a crocodile sanctuary at this present day site. Today there are approximately 400 to 600 crocodiles in the sanctuary helped by a crocodile breeding program that is carried out here.<ref name="IBCN" /> In the mid-1980s, Manjira became a popular destination for bird watchers and an annual aquatic bird count was initiated, leading to the park's conversion into a general [[wildlife sanctuary]].

== Cultural sites ==
On the banks of the river, in a village called Kalabgur, there is a temple that is said to have been constructed some 800 years ago during the [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiya]] period. The temple has magnificent architecture and is entirely made of stone, with some standing pillars created out of a single stone. The temple deity is lord Shiva. The temple also has other gods such as lord [[Krishna]], lord [[Ganapathy]] and goddess [[Saraswati|Saraswathi]].

== Park-specific information ==
The sanctuary has an Environmental Education Centre consisting of a museum, a library, and an auditorium. Films about birds and animals are shown daily. Boat services are available to take the visitors around the sanctuary for bird watching, with binoculars and books to identify birds provided to visitors. The museum has exhibits which depict the complex biodiversity of the wetlands.<ref name= "Hindu">{{cite web | url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/11/stories/2006091100080300.htm| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130125050644/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/11/stories/2006091100080300.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 25 January 2013| title = Sanctuary Spotlight | author= | date=2006-09-11| work = [[The Hindu]]| accessdate = 30 July 2012 }}</ref><ref name= "Wildlife India">{{cite web | url = http://www.wildlifeinindia.in/images/manjira.html | title = About Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary | author = | date = | work = | publisher = www.wildlifeinindia.in | accessdate = 30 July 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723093709/http://www.wildlifeinindia.in/images/manjira.html | archive-date = 23 July 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The best season to visit this sanctuary is from November to March when major [[Migratory bird|migrant birds]] nest and breed here. Accommodation for visitors is available in inspection bungalows at [[Sangareddy]], Singur and Sadasivapet.<ref name="APFD" /><ref name="Hindu"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120521235233/http://forest.ap.nic.in/WL%20MANJIRA.htm Official Page]

{{Protected areas in Telangana}}

[[Category:Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of Telangana]]
[[Category:Medak district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1978]]

Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

CleanupBot at 05:56, 11 December 2022