The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India, are known for their stunning landscapes, coral reefs, and unique biodiversity. There are 6 national parks in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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1. Saddle Peak National Park
- Saddle Peak National Park is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India.
- It is situated on surrounding areas of Saddle Peak. Saddle Peak is the highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- In 1979, Saddle Peak National Park was established to protect and preserve the unique biodiversity found in the region.
- Area: The park covers an area of approximately 85 square kilometers.
- Flora: Moist Tropical Vegetation, Deciduous Evergreen Forests, Orchids, Ferns and Mosses etc.
- Fauna: Andaman Wild Pig, Andaman Horseshoe Bat, Andaman Teal, Andaman Hill Myna,Andaman Imperial Pigeon, Saltwater Crocodile, Andaman Water Monitor Lizard etc.
2. Rani Jhansi Marine National Park
- Rani Jhansi Marine National Park is located in South Andaman district of the Andaman Islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
- It is situated in the Ritchie’s Archipelago.
- In 1996, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park was established under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- Area: Park spans an area of approximately 256 square kilometers (98.8 square miles).
- Flora: Mangroves (Rhizophora spp., Avicennia spp., and Sonneratia spp.), Tropical Rainforest Species (Dipterocarpus spp., Hopea spp., and Shorea spp.), Coastal Vegetation (Scaevola taccada, Spinifex littoreus, and Pandanus spp.), Seagrasses etc.
- Fauna: Fruit-eating Bat, Spotted Deer, Dugongs, Dolphins, Blue Whales, Narcondam Hornbill, Andaman Teal, Andaman Island Grass Skink, Andaman Water Monitor, Olive Ridley Turtle, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Leatherback Turtle etc.
3. Mount Harriet National Park
- Mount Harriet National Park is located in the Ferragunj tehsil of South Andaman district in Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory of India.
- It is situated on Mount Harriet, which is the third-highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
- It is also known as Mount Manipur National Park.
- In 1979, Mount Harriet National Park was established. The park was named Mount Harriet National Park after a British officer’s wife, Harriet Tytler. Harriet Tytler is remembered for her work in documenting the monuments of Delhi and for her notes at the time of the Revolt of 1857 in India.
- In 2021, the Government of India decided to rename the park as Mount Manipur National Park to honor the memory of freedom fighters of Manipur.
- Area: The park covers an area of approximately 46.62 square kilometers.
- Tribe: Negrito people, who are hunter-gatherers.
- Flora: Evergreen Forest, Andaman Semi-evergreen Forest, Andaman Moist Deciduous Forest, Littoral Forest etc.
- Fauna: Andaman Pig, Shrew, Bats, Asian Elephant, Chital, Indian Pond Heron, Black Naped Oriole, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Coucal, Andaman Cobra, Reticulated Python, Saltwater Crocodiles, Green Sea Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Andaman Bull Frog, Andaman Paddy Field Frog etc.
- The park is also a butterfly hotspot. The picture on the back side of ₹ 20 banknote has been taken at the Mount Harriet National Park.
4. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
- The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located in the South Andaman administrative district of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India.
- In 1983, it was established as a national park under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- Area: The Park covers an area of about 281.5 square kilometers. It includes 15 islands and several coral reefs.
- Flora: Coral Reef (Stag Horn Coral, Boulder Coral, Knob Coral, Mushroom Coral, Brain Coral, Star Coral), Mangroves (Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Sonneratia), Coastal Vegetation (beach morning glory, beach heliotrope, sea purslane, and several types of grasses and shrubs), Tropical Rainforest Species (terminalia, andaman padauk, dipterocarpus, and various species of palms, ferns, and orchids), Seagrasses (Halophila and Thalassia) etc.
- Fauna: Andaman Wild Pig, Spotted Deer, Civet, Fruit Bat, Dolphins, Andaman Teal, Andaman Serpeant Eagle, Water Monitor Lizard, Salt Water Crocodile, Green Sea Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, Hawks Bill Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle etc.
5. Campbell Bay National Park
- Campbell Bay National Park is located on the Great Nicobar Island in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
- It is situated in the eastern Indian Ocean, between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
- The national park is named after the nearby Campbell Bay.
- In 1992, Campbell Bay National Park was established.
- In 2013, The area encompassing Campbell Bay National Park was designated as part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
- Area: Park covers an area of approximately 426 square kilometers (164 square miles).
- Tribe: It is inhabited by indigenous communities, including the Shompen tribe.
- Shompen Tribe
- Flora: Moist Broadleaf Forests (Dillenia andamanica, Hopea parviflora, Palaquium formosanum, and Calophyllum inophyllum), Canopy Trees (Ceylon ironwood, Indian almond, and Gurjan), Mangroves (Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Sonneratia alba), Orchids (bravura, Coelogyne nitida and Eria nicobarica), Epiphytes etc.
- Fauna: Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrews, Andaman Wild Pig, Palm Civet, Nicobar Megapode, Nicobar Pigeon, Nicobar Serpent Eagle, Reticulated Pythons, Sal Water Crocodiles, Hawksbill Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, Malayan Box Turtle, Giant Leatherback Turtle etc.
6. Galathea National Park
- Galathea National Park is a national park located in the Nicobar Islands of Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
- It is named after the Danish expedition ship “Galathea,” which visited the area in the 19th century.
- In 1992, it was established as a national park.
- In 1989, Great Nicobar Island Biosphere Reserve was declared by the Government of India. Galathea National Park forms part of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, which also includes the larger Campbell Bay National Park.
- In 2013, the Great Nicobar Island Biosphere Reserve was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
- Area: The national park covers an area of approximately 110 square kilometers (42 square miles).
- Hills: The park terrain consists of undulating hills, with the highest peak being Mount Thullier, also known as Mount Galathea, which stands at an elevation of around 642 meters (2,106 feet) above sea level.
- Mount Thullier
- River: These rivers originate from Mount Thullier and flow through the park:
- Galathea River
- Jubilee River
- Amrit Kaur River
- Dak Aniang River
- Dak Tayal River
- Tribe: This park is home to the indigenous Shompen community.
- Shompen
- Flora: Rainforest Trees (Dipterocarpus spp., Hopea spp., Shorea spp., and Garcinia spp.), Epiphytes, Mangroves (Rhizophora spp., Avicennia spp., and Sonneratia spp.), Coastal Vegetation (Casuarina tree, Pandanus spp., and Ipomoea pes-caprae) etc.
- Fauna: Crab-eating Macaques, Nicobar Tree Shrews, Palm Civets, Wild Boar, Giant Fruit Bat, Nicobar Megapode, Nicobar Pigeon, Nicobar Scrub-fowl, Nicobar Serpent Eagle, Water Monitor Lizard, Reticulated Python, Saltwater Crocodiles, Giant Leatherback Turtles, Malayan Box Turtles etc.