Sanctuary Asia – July 2019

Sanctuary |In the Field

RAKESH KIRAN

By Anant Shankar, IFS

“If there are no mangroves, then the sea will have no meaning. It is like having a

tree without roots, for these mangroves are the roots of the sea...”

–Thai fi sherman from the Andaman coast

before emptying into the Bay of

Bengal. The estuarine area along the

coast of the old port town of Kakinada

bears deep imprints of this geography,

responsible for its unique diversity,

beauty and culture.

The lives of locals are intertwined

with the Godavari and her estuaries. The

upper courses fi nd their way through

The Godavari Delta

Jewels of

Once, during monsoon, the

Godavari river presented an awe-

inspiring form – almost like an ocean

surge. She was mighty! While on a fi eld

visit to the Godavari river bank near

the cultural city of Rajamahendravaram,

I spotted a herd of blackbuck resting

on the safer reaches of the river bank,

despite the inclement weather. This was

the fi rst record of blackbuck along the

Godavari river here.

Known as the Dakshin Ganga, the

Godavari fl ows through the Deccan,

touching millions of lives as she winds

her way from Maharashtra to Andhra

Pradesh. Originating at Trimbakeshwar,

she breaks into many tributaries along

the coast of northern Andhra Pradesh