Description

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Context :

Recently , The Archaeological Survey of India made important discoveries during an epigraphical survey at the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary in Kadapa district.
The findings are 3 rock shelters, rock paintings, & 30 inscriptions.

Key Points:

Location:
- It is Situated in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
Rivers:
- The sanctuary forms the catchment area for the Pennar River.
- The Telugu Ganga Canal also flows into the eastern part of the sanctuary but drains into the Pennar River.
Vegetation:
- The sanctuary has diverse range of vegetation, including:
  - Southern tropical dry deciduous forest in the hills.
  - Scrub forest in the plains.
  - Southern dry mixed deciduous forest.
  - Tropical thorn forests & Tropical dry evergreen forest.
- Flora:
  - There are many Endangered & rare plant species found here. It include:
    - Red Sanders & Sandalwood.
    - Rich riparian vegetation, with species like Terminalia spp, Syzygium spp. (Jamun), Wild Mangoes, Anogeissus latifolia, Phoenix spp., Bamboo, & Hardwickia binata.
  - Fauna:
    - The sanctuary has a variety of species, including:
      - Common toad, Bullfrog, Common Indian skink, and Green vine snake.
      - It is the only known habitat for the Jerdon’s Courser, a rare and endangered bird.

National Parks, Tiger Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, & Ramsar Sites of Andhra Pradesh:

Name	Location	Major Fauna / Features
Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve	Nallamala Hills, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana	Bengal tiger (EN), leopard, Indian pangolin (EN), spotted deer, mugger, blackbuck, four-horned antelope (VU)
Papikonda National Park	Papi Hills, Eastern Ghats	Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, spotted deer, hyena, common peacock, red jungle fowl, monitor lizard
Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park	Rameswaram, Kadapa District	Spotted deer, mongoose, little egrets, parakeets, bull frog, burrowing snakes
Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary	Seshachalam & Tirumala Hills, Eastern Ghats	Slender loris, leopard, sloth bear, mouse deer, chausingha, Indian giant squirrel, grey hornbill
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary	Godavari Estuary (delta)	Smooth-coated otter (VU), olive ridley sea turtles (VU), estuarine crocodile, white-backed vulture (CR)
Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary	Nallamala Hills, Near Nagarjunasagar	Tiger, leopard, Indian pangolin (EN), spotted deer
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary	Andhra-Tamil Nadu Border	Elephants, important elephant corridor
Kolleru WLS (BS)	Between Godavari & Krishna River Basins	Migratory birds, aquatic fauna
Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary	Krishna Delta	Mangrove wetlands, migratory birds
Pulicat Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (BS)	Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu	Brackish-water ecosystem, migratory birds
Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary (BS)	Andhra Pradesh	Great Indian Bustard (CR), Lesser florican (CR)
Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary	Southern Nallamala Hills	Jerdon’s courser (CR), other wildlife
Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary	Andhra Pradesh	Dry evergreen forests, unique vegetation type
Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary	Vishakhapatnam	Variety of fauna (specific details not mentioned)
Nellapattu Wildlife Sanctuary (BS)	Nellore District	Migratory birds, endangered species
Kolleru Lake	Between Godavari & Krishna River Basins	Migratory birds, aquatic fauna (Grey Pelican, Spot-Billed Pelican (VU))