About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location: It is part of the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa river confluences into the Bay of Bengal in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Between this area and the sea " Hope Island " blocks the direct confluence of the sea and Godavari.
- As a result, about 40% of the sanctuary is only sea-backwaters and the rest of the area is intermingled with creeks and gets inundated with tidal waters.
- Vegetation: It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forests. It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forests in India.
- Flora: It consists of Mangrove plants like Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonnertia spp, etc.
- Fauna: It is home to endangered mammals like Smooth Indian otter, Fishing cat, Jackal, etc. Mangroves offer excellent habitat for birds like Black capped kingfisher, Brahminy kite, Sea gulls, Reef heron, Sand piper, etc.
- The sea coast of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a breeding ground for Olive ridley turtles.
Key facts about Fishing Cat:
- The Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat.
- It is a solitary and nocturnal hunters that rest during the day amongst dense vegetation and then at night head to the water to find food. They are very strong swimmers and can swim large distances, often while pursuing a fish.
- Appearance: It is a “small” cat of medium size and stocky build, with short legs, a short tail, and a face that is round but elongated. Females are noticeably smaller than males.
- Habitat: They live primarily in wetland areas, swamps, and marshy areas around oxbow lakes, reed beds, tidal creeks, and mangrove forests.
- Distribution: They are mainly found in Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka and parts of Pakistan, in western India to southern China, Java, and Sumatra.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix II
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
