A paradise to experience some of the most exotic wildlife, the island has mountains and waters alike for the avid traveller. Some of the island’s treasured gems include the well-known Mahatma Gandhi Marine National park, Campbell Bay National Park, Saddle Heights National park, and Galathea National park.
Andaman houses several wildlife sanctuaries, including the Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Landfall Wildlife Sanctuary, and Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary.
An archipelago of island masses, Andaman brims with herbal attractions and biodiversity. Home to a wealthy marine life, fascinating coral reefs, and an eye-capturing aquatic world, the island’s national parks are every adventurer’s dream destination.
Mahatma Gandhi National Park
Located close to Port Blair, it is one of the famous National parks that boasts of rich marine life, coral reefs, and snorkelling sites. The park aims to showcase some of the island’s rare flora and fauna, including rare species close to extinction, such as water lizards, sea snakes, wild boars, and mangroves and creeks.
Mount Harriet National Park
One of the most visited parks on the island, it spans an area of forty-six sq km and houses wild pigs, turtles, and robber crabs. The park also provides accommodation facilities that visitors can book and spend time on nature’s lap.
Campbell Bay National Park
This National park is situated 190 km from Sumatra and is spread over about 420 sq km. Rich in marine life, it harbours the Megapode and crab-consuming Macaque. It is the perfect place to enjoy a day filled with native animal and plant species.
Galathea National Park
Established in 1992, the Galathea National Park is situated on the Great Nicobar Island and is part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. It is separated from Campbell Bay National Park via a 12-km extensive woodland buffer zone, a habitat for specific bird and animal species. Visitors can view turtles, pythons, and Malayan field turtles from the sturdy watchtower in the park.
Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Known for its majestic elephants, this is a sanctuary that looks after the welfare of this intelligent species. Apart from the tusked friend, one can spot several animals such as civets, three-striped palm squirrel, wild pigs, spotter deers, and others. The park also houses an array of colourful birds.
Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Located on a remote island, the sanctuary is well-known for its precise surroundings, where volcanic activities have advanced. The island is uninhabited and famous for its populace of specific animals adapted to the hostile atmosphere, including bats, flying foxes, rats, and a small population of goats. One may also discover an underwater coral lawn that can be explored via scuba diving from a ship.
Conclusion
Showcasing the best of nature’s magic and beauty, these national parks highlight the diversity and adaptability of animals and birds in the most diverse settings. Wildlife in the Andaman is abundant and fulfilling, most of which remains unexplored. With a rich marine life, enchanting bird species, coral reefs, and underwater wealth, the wildlife of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are undoubtedly mesmerising.
The Andaman Islands house about 2200 varieties of plants, of which 200 are considered endemic, about 50 species of mammals, 26 species of rodents, 270 species of birds, and much more. One may just happen upon the 225 species of beautiful butterflies as well!