MANJEERA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The 5,000-acre Manjeera wildlife sanctuary in Sangareddy about 60 km from Hyderabad - could soon become Telangana's first ramsar sites.

Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is situated in the Medak district of Telangana, serving as both a wildlife sanctuary and a reservoir.
• Originally established for crocodiles, the sanctuary now hosts over 70 species of birds and remains a habitat for the vulnerable mugger crocodile.
• Geographical Features: Positioned along the Manjeera River, a tributary of the Godavari, the sanctuary adjoins the Manjeera reservoir, crucial for irrigation and drinking water supply to Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
• Islands and Bird Sanctuaries: The reservoir contains nine small islands with marshy fringes, ideal for water bird nesting. Dense tree cover on these islands further supports diverse bird populations.
• Vegetation: Dry savannah vegetation alongside submergent and emergent types supported by the freshwater ecosystem.
• Flora: Various plant species thrive here, including Typha, Babool, Prosopis, Ipomoea, Acacia, Vallisneria, Eichhornia, and Reeds, enriching the biodiversity of the sanctuary.
• Fauna: The sanctuary's riverine environment sustains populations of mugger crocodiles, freshwater turtles, prawns, molluscs, and fish species such as catla, rohu, murrel, eel, karugu, and chidwa.

Other Wildlife Sanctuaries

• Mrugavani National Park
• KBR Park
• Pranahita wildlife sanctuary
• Shivaram wildlife Sanctuary
• Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
• Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary
• Shamirpet Deer Park
• Nehru Zoological Park