Stunning 9 National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar

National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar

The Nine National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar are Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea National Park, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Middle Button Island National Park, Mount Harriet National Park, North Button Island National Park, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, Saddle Peak National Park, and the South Button Island National Park.

The Status of National Park in India is the highest level of protection that can be given to an area under the Wild Life (Protection), Act, 1972.

National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar

SNoNational Parks Andaman & Nicobar IslandsYear of EstablishmentArea (km2)District
1Campbell Bay NP1992426.23Nicobar
2Galathea Bay NP1992110Nicobar
3Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) NP1983281.5Andaman
4Middle Button Island NP19870.44Andaman
5Mount Harriett NP198746.62Andaman
6North Button Island NP19870.44Andaman
7Rani Jhansi Marine NP1996256.14Andaman
SSaddle Peak NP198732.54Andaman
9South Button Island NP19870.03Andaman

1. Saddle Peak National Park

  • The Saddle Peak National Park consists of a peak of height 737 meters above MSL and is the highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • The Saddle Peak National Park is shaped like a double-humped saddle, hence it is named so.
  • The Park is along the eastern coast of North Andaman Island.
  • The eastern boundary of the Saddle Peak National Park is a long and rocky beach.
  • The Park consists of a freshwater pool, from which water is supplied to Diglipur.
  • The Saddle Peak National Park have evergreen forests and is thick and luxuriant.
  • 10 perennial streams flow through the Saddle Peak National Park along with 132 seasonal streams.
  • Forest types of Saddle Peak National Park include Tropical Evergreen, Moist Deciduous, Semi-evergreen. With species as Canebrake and Wet Bamboo.

FAUNA of Saddle Peak National Park 

  • Mammals of the Saddle Peak National Park include the endemic Andaman Horseshoe Bat.
  • The introduced Himalayan Palm Civet,  
  • Saltwater Crocodile and Andaman Water Monitor Lizard are found but it is difficult to estimate their density.

2. The Campbell Bay National Park

  • The Campbell Bay National Park is a part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
  • Area: 426 Sq. km
  • Location: in the northern part of Great Nicobar.
  • Flora: Tropical evergreen forest, tree fern, and orchids.
  • Fauna: Saltwater crocodile, Nicobar tree shrew, Nicobar Megapode. Reticulated python and the Giant Robber Crab, Fruit Bat, Giant leatherback turtle, Crab Eating Macaque, Nicobar Serpent Eagle, Andaman Wild pig, Malayan box turtle, Nicobar Pigeon, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Palm Civet, Fruit Bat.
National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar
National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar

3. Galathea National Park

  • Area of Galathea national park: 110 square kilometres,
  • Galathea national park was gazetted as a National Park in 1992.
  • Galathea national park is part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, which also includes the larger Campbell Bay National Park, both are separated by a 12-km forest buffer zone.
  • Flora of Galathea national park- tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests,
  • Fauna of Galathea national park- giant robber crab, megapode and Nicobar pigeon.

4. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

  • Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park Area: 280 sq km
  • It comprises 15 Islands of mangrove creeks, tropical rainforests and reefs supporting 50 types of coral.
  • The marine park’s snorkelling sites at Jolly Buoy and Red Skin islands are popular.
  • Fauna: water-monitor, lizard, wild boar, sea snakes, turtles, coral reefs, colourful fishes, molluscs, shells, starfish, turtles, salt-water crocodile, White-Bellied Sea Eagle, Parakeets, Andaman Teal, Heron, Terns, Waders, Swifts.
Rani Jhansi National Park
National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar – Rani Jhansi National Park

5. Mount Harriet National Park

  • On 17 Oct 2021, the Government of India renamed Mount Harriet, a historical tourist spot in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, as ‘Mount Manipur’.
  • The Mount Harriet Island National Park is located in Ferrargunj tehsil of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • The park covers about 46.62 km2.
  • Fauna of Mount Harriet National Park: saltwater crocodiles, turtles and robber crab, Andaman wild pigs.

6. The Rani Jhansi Marine National Park (RJMNP)

  • The Rani Jhansi Marine National Park is located within Ritchie’s Archipelago.
  • Area: 256.14 square kilometres.
  • Rani Jhansi National Park is 14 km northeast of the South Andaman Islands and southeast of Middle Andaman Island.
  • The natural habitats of the park include lagoons, coral reefs, beaches, lowland evergreen rain forests, semi-evergreen rain forests and mangrove forests.
  • Rani Jhansi National Park’s Climate is humid, the typical tropical coastal climate because of its proximity to the equator and the sea.
  • Rainfall is very heavy, up to 3,800 mm annual average, due to the southwest and northeast monsoons.
  • Rani Jhansi National Park was founded in 1996 and commemorates Rani Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi.
  • Over 80 species of corals are reported from just one area of the Park.
  • The Rani Jhansi National Park is extremely rich in coral reef fauna.

Fauna:

  • Four species of sea turtles are found, namely the Olive Ridley, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Leatherback Turtle.
  • Dugongs, Crocodiles,
  • National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar

7. North Button Island National Park

  • Fauna – dugong, dolphin, water monitor, lizard.

8. Middle Button Island National Park

  • Middle Button Island National Park is situated close to Point Blair.
  • The total area of the park is about 64 square kilometres.
  • Flora: deciduous forests
  • Fauna: spotted deer, monitor, lizard and marine species.

9. South Button Island National Park

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

  • The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Islands form an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west and Myanmar to the north and east.
  • Most of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to India, and a few islands in the north of the archipelago, including the Coco Islands belong to Myanmar.
  • The Andaman Islands are home to the Sentinelese tribe among few others, who have had little contact with the outside world.
  • The Andaman Archipelago is an oceanic continuation of the Burmese Arakan Yoma range in the North and of the Indonesian Archipelago in the South.
  • It has 325 islands which cover an area of 6,408 sq. Km.
  • The climate is typical of tropical islands of similar latitude. It is always warm, but with sea-breezes. Rainfall in Andaman & Nicobar island is irregular, usually dry during the north-east monsoon, and very wet during the south-west monsoon.
  • In December 2018, the Government of India renamed three of the islands as a tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose.
  • Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island.
  • Neil Island as Shaheed Island.
  • Havelock Island as Swaraj Island

FAQ

How many national parks are there in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

As per Government of india, there are total Nine National Parks in National Parks in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2021. Namely- The Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea National Park, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Middle Button Island National Park, Mount Harriet National Park, North Button Island National Park, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, Saddle Peak National Park, South Button Island National Park.

Which is the highest peak in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

The Saddle Peak National Park consists of a peak of height 737 meters above MSL and is the highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Where is Campbell Bay National Park located?

The Campbell Bay National Park is a part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
Area: 426 Sq. km
Location: in the northern part of Great Nicobar.

Where is Mount Harriett National Park situated?

The Mount Harriet Island National Park is located in Ferrargunj tehsil of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The park covers about 46.62 km2.

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