Combined Andhra Pradesh State (2011): An Overview about its Forestry and Wildlife

 

Combined Andhra Pradesh state (2011): An Overview about its Forestry and Wildlife

 

 

 

Geographically situated on the country’s south east coastal region, this state of India is a part of the Deccan Plateau. Two of the famous rivers of south India, which are River Godavari and River Krishna, flow through this state. The state of Andhra Pradesh even covers a part of the plains of the Eastern Ghats that is a land of dense tropical kind of forest. Thus, this state of south India has got a vast area of land covered by forests. The forest land accounts for around 23.20 %, which is about 63, 814 sq. km. of the total area of the state. Apart from offering lush greenery and unpolluted air to the state, these forests are home to a number of wild life species. As these forest land approach the area of the Deccan Plateau, the condition of those forests becomes semi arid towards the south western as well as the western part of this south Indian state.

 

Forestry in Andhra Pradesh

 

The entire forest region of this state is divided in different kinds of forests. Let us have a quick look at the various types of forests, which are found in this state of the nation:

Sl. No.         Type of Forest       Percentage of forest area          Area (In sq. km.)

1        Dry deciduous southern 

                tropical forest                   44.55%                           28, 365

2        Southern tropical forest            25.25%                           16, 110

3        Moist deciduous southern 

                    tropical forest              25.22%                               16, 100

4        Littoral forest                          4.48%                                  2, 856

5        Tidal swamp mangrove forest   0.50%                                      383

 

 

 

Being a land of so many kinds of forests, the state has got a wide range of plants and vegetation. Sal and teak are some of the most famous trees found in the forests of Andhra Pradesh. Apart from those, the forest region even includes varied other non-coniferous plants.

To name a few more species are as follows:

Anogeissus

Dalbergias

Genera terminalia

Pterocarpus

 

The state proudly possesses some of the endemic and rare plant species, which are mentioned below:

 

Cycas beddomei

Psilotum nudam

Pterocarpus santalinus

Shorea talura

Shorea tumburgia

Syzygium alternifolium

Terminalia pallida

Wildlife in Andhra Pradesh

 

 

The hills that are positioned in the Eastern Ghats add on to the biological diversity of the state. The forests of these hilly regions are inhabited by many animal species. Some of those places are even transformed to a national park or a wildlife sanctuary. The varied species of wildlife found in those forests include black buck, cheetal, chinkara, chowsingha, gaur, hyena, nilgai, panther, sambar, sloth bear, tiger, wild dog, wolf and many more. Besides these, several other species of reptiles and birds can even be spotted in those areas. This Indian state has got 6 National Parks and 20 sanctuaries. The state is home to 3 zoos as well. The names of these places are categorized below:

 

National Parks in Andhra Pradesh

 

Following are the national parks, which are located within the combined Anshra Pradesh state:

 

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park

Mrugavani National Park

Papikonda National Park

Rajiv Gandhi National Park

Sri Venkateshwara National Park

Sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh

 

Listed below are the wildlife sanctuaries of this combined Andhra Pradeshg (2011) state of the Republic of India:

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary (Presently in Telangana State) 

Gundla Brahmeswara Sanctuary

Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary  (Presently in Telanagana State )

Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary

Kolleru Sanctuary

Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Manjira Sanctuary  (Presently in Telangana State )

Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Sanctuary

Nelapattu Sanctuary

Rollapadu Sanctuary

Pakhal Sanctuary  (Presently in Telanganba State )

Pocharam Sanctuary (Presently in Telangana State )

Pranahita Sanctuary

Pulicat Sanctuary

Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary

Sri Lankamalleshwara Sanctuary

Sri Peninsula Narasimha Sanctuary

Zoo in Andhra Pradesh

 

Names of the zoological gardens that are maintained by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department are given below:

 

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

Nehru Zoological Park

Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park