The
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of
islands which are located at the juncture of
Bay of Bengal and
Andaman Sea. These islands together form one of the seven
union territories of India. It is adorned with a variety of
flora and fauna. These flora and fauna are protected in national parks. Some of these
national parks are described below.
Saddle Peak National Park
Saddle Peak National Park is located in the Andaman district. It was established in 1987 and occupies a total area of about 32.54 square kilometers. This national park has a peak called Saddle Peak, which is about 737 m above main sea level. It is the highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some of the occupants of the park are littoral and evergreen forests, perennial streams, seasonal streams, Andaman wild pig, water monitor lizard,
salt water crocodile and dolphins.
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park is housed in the Andaman district. It was established in 1996 and occupies a total area of about 256.14 square kilometers. The park is adorned with lagoons,
coral reefs,
beaches, lowland evergreen
rain forest, terrestrial moist forest,
mangrove forests, etc. Some of the other attractions of the park are
fruit-eating bat,
crocodiles,
dugong and green
turtle.
Mount Harriet National Park
Mount Harriet National Park is situated in Ferrargunj Tehsil. It occupies an area of about 46.62 square kilometers. Some of the inmates of the park are near threatened avifaunal species like Andaman
wood pigeon and Andaman
cuckoo-
dove,
reptiles like
lizards and
snakes and aquatic fauna.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located near Wandoor on the Andaman Islands. It was established on 24th of May, 1983 and occupies an area of about 281.5 square kilometers. This park has open sea creeks running through the area. It has about 20 islands and rocks and
vegetation that differ from island to island.
Galathea National Park
Galathea National Park is located on the island of
Great Nicobar in the Nicobar Islands. It was gazetted as a National Park of India in 1992. This national park occupies a total area of about 110 square kilometers. This park serves as a home to several unique and rare species of
plants and
animals, including those who are endemic to the islands.
Other National Parks of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National Park, North Button Island National Park and Campbell Bay National Park are some of the other National Parks of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
