Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Prelims: Environment | Science and technology | Current events of national and international importance

Why in news?

Recently Wildlife Institute of India experts collared three fishing cats in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh to study the behaviour of the species.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary – It is located in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Established – 1978 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
It is situated at the Godavari River delta, rich in backwaters and estuarine systems.
Mangrove forest – It is a significant mangrove forest ecosystem and is rich in flora and fauna adapted to brackish water ecosystems.
Estuarine ecosystem – It supports a mix of freshwater and marine life due to tidal influences.

Key Fauna & Flora

Endangered species – Fishing cat, Otters, Smooth-coated Otter and Small-clawed Otter.
Birdlife – Over 120 species, including Pond Herons, Egrets, Flamingos, and Darters.
Reptiles & Amphibians – It includes crocodiles, snakes, and frogs native to estuarine habitats.
Aquatic & Avian Richness – It is a vital nursery for marine fish and crustaceans.
Migratory birds – It is important stopover site for winter migratory species.
Fish diversity – It includes estuarine and marine species adapted to salinity variations.
Vegetation – Dominant mangrove species such as Avicennia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia.
It also features dense mangrove thickets, tidal creeks, and mudflats.

Fishing Cat Collaring Project (2025)

It is initiated by Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun)to track endangered fishing cats.
Fishing cats – It is found in Coringa and Krishna sanctuaries, primarily inhabiting mangrove ecosystems.
Scientific name – Prionailurus viverrinus

fishing cat

It is aggressive, nocturnal, active near water bodies while hunting.
It dwells deep within dense mangrove cover.
It is one of the first of its kind in India to monitor home range and behaviour.
Conservation Status
- IUCN – Endangered.
- CITES – Appendix II.
- Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I.
Threats – Encroachment, pollution, and shrimp farming coastal erosion and climate change impacts.
Three fishing cats collared in May 2025 using lightweight GPS-enabled collars.
It will record environmental or human-induced threats that impact survival.
Seven more fishing cats will be collared to study the home range, behaviour, feeding, breeding, and prey pattern of the endangered species

Reference

The Hindu| WII collar three fishing cats in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Freedom of Speech

ECI upgrades mechanism for Index Cards on Electoral Data

ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES