Multiple challenges persist across Andhra Pradesh's wildlife sanctuaries

Time of India

7 hours ago

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Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh, characterised by diverse ecosystems ranging from wetlands and forests to grasslands, hosts a significant network of protected areas that are crucial for biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of ecological functions.
A management effectiveness evaluation conducted by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change for the 2020–2025 period, across two cycles and multiple national parks (NPs) and wildlife sanctuaries (WLSs) in the state, revealed a mixed picture. While some progress has been made in conservation and management practices, several persistent challenges continue to hinder the full realisation of ecological and social objectives.
For example, Papikonda national park exemplifies some of these challenges. Of the 47 villages within the park, only three have been fully relocated, impeding habitat restoration and effective management. Infrastructural deficiencies, such as poor road connectivity and inadequate communication facilities, further undermine conservation efforts. Additionally, the ongoing Polavaram irrigation project is altering habitats and threatening the park's ecological balance.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Kambalakonda WLS, located on the urban fringes of Visakhapatnam, faces mounting pressure from urbanisation. Although it serves as a vital green lung for the city, its ecological integrity is compromised by the presence of a village within its boundaries, leading to biotic disturbances. Its isolation from other forested landscapes exacerbates human-wildlife conflict by restricting natural wildlife corridors.
The report recommends exploring the soft release of a captive-bred population of wild dogs from Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, which could help restore natural predation dynamics and enhance ecological balance.
Kolleru WLS presents a different set of challenges, particularly in managing its complex freshwater wetland ecosystem. Although illegal fishing and aquaculture are under reasonable control, the absence of an approved management plan remains a critical administrative bottleneck.
Siltation in water channels reduces inflow, threatening the wetland's ecological stability. Conservation efforts are further complicated by local hostility, stemming from land acquisition issues and the revocation of traditional fishing rights.
Koundinya WLS, part of the Rayala Elephant Reserve, is home to approximately half of Andhra Pradesh's elephant population. Despite the use of mitigation measures such as electric fencing and trenches to reduce human-elephant conflict, the sanctuary faces serious management constraints.
An expired management plan, a 35% shortage of frontline staff, porous borders prone to poaching, and limited funding all weaken the effectiveness of conservation activities.
In the avian context, Nellapattu WLS is a critical breeding and roosting site for around 15,000 birds, including 1,700 Grey Pelicans and several other waterbird species. However, its wetland habitat is threatened by periodic droughts and fluctuating water levels, which destabilise bird populations.
The report's recommendation to study fish populations as a sustainable food base underscores the need to ensure food security for these species, linking habitat health directly to conservation outcomes.
Rollapadu WLS, dedicated to the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), presents a particularly concerning scenario. The GIB population is believed to have declined beyond recovery, posing a major conservation challenge. While other grassland species such as the Lesser Florican persist, the sanctuary's isolation and surrounding land-use changes continue to threaten the remaining grassland biodiversity.