Atapaka Bird Sanctuary

• Atapaka Bird Sanctuary, situated on the Kolleru Lake in the Indian state Andhra Pradesh, is the home to a vast repertoire of birds.
• It is especially known for sheltering Pelicans.
• It spans over an area of 673 square kilometres with wet land marsh habitat extending across two districts namely West Godavari and Krishna.
• Atapaka Bird Sanctuary falls under Kaikalur forest range.
• The sanctuary was established with the aim of safeguarding the diverse birdlife that thrives in the wetlands surrounding the lake.
• It was officially declared as a sanctuary in the year 1999 by the Andhra Pradesh government.
• Flora at Atapaka Bird Sanctuary
  • Avicennia Marina: Known as the white mangrove, this species dominates the mangrove forests within the sanctuary.
  • Rhizophora Mucronata: The red mangrove, with its characteristic stilt roots, creates a fascinating visual spectacle.
  • Ceriops Decandra: This mangrove species adds to the biodiversity of the region, thriving in brackish water habitats.
• Fauna at Atapaka Bird Sanctuary
  • Spot-billed Pelican
  • Open-billed Stork
  • Painted Stork
  • White Ibis
  • Asian Openbill Stork
  • Grey Heron
  • Little Cormorant
  • Black-Crowned Night Heron
  • Eurasian Spoonbill, etc.

Kolleru Lake

• Kolleru lake is located between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Andhra Pradesh.
  • The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for the two rivers.
• It is an important habitat for an estimated 20 million residents and migratory birds like Grey or Spot-billed pelicans.
• It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999 under India’s Wild Life Protection Act,1972.
• It was declared a wetland of international importance in 2002 under Ramsar convention.