Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located 20 km south of the port city Kakinada, on the Kakinada-Yanam state highway, nestling on the deltaic branches of Gouthami and Godavari rivers at Kakinada Bay. It has extensive marshes and mangroves. During monsoon, the mudflats get submerged under 5 m of water. These large mudflats, which are subjected to cyclic influx and efflux of tidal water, play a vital role in attracting a large number of waders to this region. About 50% of the area is the backwaters which include a sand bar of about 20 km, running north-south. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is made up from Backwaters. A boat ride is available here for family to enjoy.

Two rivers, namely the Coringa and Gaderu, and their deltaic branches intersect the entire region, along with other water channels draining into them or directly into the sea. This forms about 33,570 ha of marsh vegetation. The Sanctuary is part of the estuary of River Godavari, and supports a rich growth of mangrove vegetation with halophytes such as Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia officinalis, Lumnitzeria racemosa, Ceriops decandra, Sonneratia apetala and Aegiceras corniculatus. 

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary situated in Andhra Pradesh, India. Being the home to numerous species of plants and animals, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is 18 km from the city of Kakinada. A wide variety of plants, chirping birds and a fair population of golden jackal, sea turtle and fishing cat are tourist attractions. It is the second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India with 24 mangrove tree species and more than 120 bird species. It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long billed vulture. In a mangrove ecosystem the water bodies of the ocean/sea and the river meet together at a certain point. 

This wildlife sanctuary stretches over an area of 235 Sq. Km. The Wooden bridge which is 572 ft long is available for tourists walk thru the forest. 2 Km long wooden bridge also added for tourists sightseeing. Boating is available for tourists. Mangrove forest is natural formation at the bays of Rivers Krishna and the Godavari. Coringa mangrove is the second largest mangrove forests in India. 35 mangrove species can be seen here. EGREE (East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem) an important bird area and a potential for Ramsar Site. 

FLORA: The Sanctuary in the estuary of river Godavari supports rich mangrove vegetation with species like Rhizophora, Avicennia, Sonneratia, Aegiceros. FAUNA: Otter, Fishing Cat, Jackal, Marine Turtle and Estuarine Crocodile. Most common birds are Sea Gulls, Storks, Herons, Snipes, Ducks and Flamingos.

This area is declared as the wildlife sanctuary in the year 1978.