Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary located in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the rarest eco-regions of the world because it harbors vast tracts of pristine mangrove forests. It is believed by conservationists to be one of the last remaining tracts of thick primary mangrove forests of South India, which is rapidly disappearing due to absence of protective measures.

Geography

The sanctuary is a part of the mangrove wetland in Andhra Pradesh and are located in the coastal plain of Krishna River delta. The Krishna mangroves lie between 15° 2' N and 15° 55' N in latitude and 80° 42'- 81° 01' E in longitude spread across Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh. It includes Sorlagondi Reserve Forest, Nachugunta Reserve Forest, Yelichetladibba Reserve Forest, Kottapalem Reserve Forest, Molagunta Reserve Forest, Adavuladivi Reserve Forest and Lankivanidibba Reserve Forest. They occupy the islands of the delta and the adjacent mainlands of Krishna and Guntur districts. A part of the mangrove forests is located far from the main mangrove area. This unconnected regions lies near Machilipatnam on its eastern side and Nakshatranagar on its western side.

Flora and fauna

Some of the tree species in Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary are: Casuarina equisetifolia, Pongamia gladra, Calotropis gigantea, Cassia auriculata, Thespesia populnea, Ipomaea biloba, Spinifex squarrosus, Spinifex littoreus, Pongamia pinnate, Prosopis juliflora, banyan, peepul, margosa, tumma, mango, palmyra.

Fishing cats were recorded between November 2013 and August 2014 at several locations outside Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Snakes Snakes of the area include: Common name Formal name Status Common name Formal name Status Indian python Python molurus - Common cobra Naja naja – Common sand boa Eryx conicus – Russell's viper Vipera russelli – John's sand boa Eryx johnii – Saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus – Common wolf snake Lycodon aulicus – Bamboo pit viper Trimeresurus gramineus – Common kukri snake Oligodon arnensis – Shaw's wolf snake Lycodon striatus rare Striped keelback snake Amphiesma stolata – Twin-spotted wolf snake Lycodon jara rare Chequered keelback snake Fowlea piscator – Gunther's racer Argyrogena gracilis rare Common trinket snake Elaphe helena – Smooth snake Wallophis brachyura rare Rat snake Ptyas mucosus – Painted bronzeback Dendrelaphis pictus rare Common Indian bronzeback Dendrelaphis tristis – Condanorus sand snake Psammophis condanarus rare Common green whip snake / Asian vine snake Ahaetulla nasuta – Stout sand snake Psammophis longifrons rare Common cat snake Boiga trigonata – King cobra Ophiophagus hannah rare Common krait Bungarus caeruleus –

The amphibian fauna present in the sanctuary include the common frog, the otter and the saltwater crocodile. The herbivorous species present are spotted deer, sambar and black buck. Other species found in the sanctuary are jungle cat, fox and bear. Avifauna include crested serpent eagle, Indian roller, wagtails and pipits.

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

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