Introduction
Corangi or Coringa is a beautiful Mada or Mangrove Forest, where the river Godavari joins the backwaters of Bay of Bengal. 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.
Uniqueness
The sea coast of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a breeding ground for Olive ridley turtles.
Indicator Species
Black capped king fisher, Solomon arab butterfly, Fishing cat, Fiddler crabs, etc.
Legal Status
05.07.1978
Forest Type
Tidal Mangrove forests.
Temperature
Mean annual -25° C.; Max -31° C. Min -21° C.
Flora
Mangrove plants like Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonnertia spp, etc;grow here. The plants possess salt glands to throw out excess of salt. They also give out pencil like roots called " pneumatophores " or breathing roots (these help in exchange of atmospheric oxygen). The seedlings exhibit a phenomenon called " Viviparity ", where in they grow on the mother plant and detach themselves, to grow into new plant under favourable conditions.
Fauna
The faunal diversity is wonderful with rare and 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. Reptilian fauna includes Estuarine crocodile, Olive Ridley sea-turtles, Common Cobra, Rat snake, etc. The invertebrate fauna that forms the main base for the other higher fauna is extremely diverse and rich with invertebrates like molluscs, gastropods, crabs, shrimps, insects, etc.