WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES

The Wild Life of some interest such as Bisons, Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Bears, occasional Panthers and Tigers are confined only to the agency forests. Among the birds, the most common is the Peafowl in the Papikonda hills. Partridges and Quails are also commonly seen.

In the rest of the upland forest areas, wild life of the type mentioned above is completely absent except for an occasional deer in the estate forests.

In West Godavari District, the following two Wild Life Sanctuaries are existing.

Papikonda Wild Life Sanctuary The total area of Papikonda Wild Life Sanctuary is 590.68sq.km. It spreads over Khammam, East Godavari and West Godavari Districts. The Sanctuary area falling in West Godavari District is 148.38 sq.kms in Polavaram Range and it is totally the reserved forest area and forms part of the total notified forest area of the district. The Sanctuary was declared in G.O. Ms. No. 486, Forests & Rural Development (For.III) Department, dt. 5.7.1978.

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary Kolleru Bird Sanctuary falls in Krishna and West Godavari Districts and final notification declaring it as Sanctuary under section 26(A) of Wild life Protection Act 1972 was issued in G.O. Ms.No.120 EFS&T (For.III) Dept., dt. 4.10.1999. The total area of the sanctuary is 308.552 Sq.kms of which 237.935sq.kms falls in West Godavari district. It is totally out side the reserved forest area. Pelicons were visiting Kolleru Sanctuary every year in abundant numbers from November to March for nesting purpose from far off countries. Now the situation is changing with increased human activity in the Sanctuary area in the form of encroachments. The visit of Pelicons to Sanctuary is fast decreasing may be due to feeling insecurity.