THARU DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: From the Eyes of Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha : 'Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor Andaman Bharat (India)

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

From the Eyes of Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha : 'Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor Andaman Bharat (India)

From the Eyes of Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha :

'Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor

Andaman Bharat (India)

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is situated near Wandoor in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bharat (India). This Park was created in 1983 under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to protect marine life such as corals and nestling sea turtles prevalent in the area. The Marine Park covers 281.5 sq km made up of 17 islands , and is treasure house of exquisite corals and mind-boggling array of marine species. The open sea creeks run through this area. There is possibility of eco-tourism on Jolly Bouy and Red Skin islets belonging to Rutland Archipelago, and Wandoor is gateway to these two islets.

Most of the Coral Reefs in the park are Fringing Reefs. The type and composition of vegetation vary from island to island. Most notably there one can see a difference between the tourists islands which suffer more anthropocentric change and others which do not.

Tarmugli , the largest island, is covered with thick mangrove vegetation, sand covered beaches, uprooted trees and sheet rocks. Twin Islands are an important breeding ground for turtles in the Park.

All the islands come under Port Blair taluk. The islands are on uninhabited land but there is population of 7300 people living in 10 adjacent villages mainly Manglutan and Wandoor.