The Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is a
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
located near
Visakhapatnam
, image_alt =
, image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura submarine museu ...
. It has been under the control of
Andhra Pradesh Forest Department since 10 March 1970. Earlier the land was under the control of Maharajah of
Vizianagaram
Vizianagaram is a city and the headquarters of Vizianagaram district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is central Eastern Ghats, about west of the Bay of Bengal and north-northeast of Visakhapatnam. The city has a population of 228,02 ...
. It was named after the local hillock Kambalakonda. It is a
dry evergreen forest
An evergreen forest is a forest made up of evergreen trees. They occur across a wide range of climatic zones, and include trees such as conifers and holly in cold climates, eucalyptus, Live oak, acacias, magnolia, and banksia in more temperate zon ...
mixed with scrub and meadows and covers an area of 70.70 square kilometers. The
indicator species is the
Indian leopard
The Indian leopard (''Panthera pardus fusca'') is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. The species ''Panthera pardus'' is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because populations have declined following habita ...
.
Geography
The sanctuary is located from latitudes of 17.34° N to 17.47° N and longitudes of 83.04° E to 83.20° E. The location corresponds to an area west of
National Highway 16
Route 16, or Highway 16, can refer to:
International
* Asian Highway 16
* European route E16
* European route E016
Australia
- Thompsons Road (Victoria)
- South Australia
Canada
;Parts of the Trans-Canada Highway:
*Yellowhead H ...
on the northern side of Visakhapatnam and Pendurthi in
Visakhapatnam district
Visakhapatnam district (formerly known as Vizagapatam district) is one of the six districts in the Uttarandhra region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, headquartered at Visakhapatnam. It is one of the twenty-six districts in Andhra Prad ...
. It can be reached by road about 3 km from Visakhapatnam, opposite to zoo park.
The sanctuary has a dry evergreen forest mixed with scrub and meadows. The terrain is hilly with steep slopes.
Flora and fauna
Flora
There is diverse flora and fauna in this sanctuary representing the
Eastern Ghats
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south passing some parts of Karnataka as well as Telangana. They are eroded and cut ...
. Floral diversity is high and includes:
Fauna
There is a varied fauna
[http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/09/28/stories/2006092803301900.htm] present in the sanctuary.
Mammals
Reptiles
Birds
Butterflies
Gallery
Pentatomid_nymph,_Kambalakonda_Wildlife_Sanctuary,_Visakhapatnam.jpg, ''Pentatomid nymph'' at Kambalakonda, Visakhapatnam
Capparis zeylanica shrub kambalakonda Visakhapatnam.jpg, ''Capparis zeylanica'' shrub kambalakonda, Visakhapatnam
Kambhalakonda EDC Vizag.jpg, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Visakhapatnam
Indian peafowl Kambalakonda Visakhapatnam.JPG, Indian peafowl at Kambalakonda, Visakhapatnam
Reflections at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.JPG, Reflections at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary
Forest at Kambalakonda Visakhapatnam.JPG, Forest at Kambalakonda Visakhapatnam
Rest area at Kambalakonda Ecopark Visakhapatnam.JPG, Rest area at Kambalakonda Ecopark
Greenery at Kambalakonda Eco Park.JPG, Greenery at Kambalakonda Eco Park
Madhurawada Dome section of Eastern Ghats at Bakkannapalem.JPG, Eastern Ghats of Kambalakonda
Mottled Emigrant Butterflies (Catopsilia pyranthe) at Kambalakonda 02.jpg, Mottled emigrant butterflies (''Catopsilia pyranthe'') at Kambalakonda
Huge anthill Kambalakonda Visakhapatnam.JPG, Huge anthill at Kambalakonda
A dragon fly (helicopter).jpg, A dragon fly (helicopter) at Kambalakonda
See also
*
Andhra Pradesh Forest Department
*
Dolphin Nature Conservation Society
The Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS) is a registered (no. 507/2001) voluntary environmental non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is committed to the causes of nature c ...
References
External links
*
{{Protected areas of Andhra Pradesh
Wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh
Tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam
Parks in Visakhapatnam
Uttarandhra
1970 establishments in Andhra Pradesh
Protected areas established in 1970