Page 626 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

624  SOUTH INDIA

4 Wandoor Marine National Park

Created in 1983 to preserve the tropical ecosystems of 15
uninhabited islands in the Andamans, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine
National Park at Wandoor stretches over 281 sq km (108 sq miles).
It encompasses myriad lagoons, bays, coral reefs, rainforests and
mangrove creeks. Ferries from Wandoor village skirt lagoons with
kaleidoscopic sea beds, and are often chased by schools of playful
dolphins. Most of the islands are protected and thus inaccessible;
however, their coasts reveal a fascinating transition from towering
tropical canopies to stilted mangroves. The only islands that allow
visits are Jolly Buoy Island (open 15 Nov–15 May), which is ideal for
snorkelling, and Redskin Island (open May–Nov), with a well-marked Types of Coral
nature trail. Unfortunately, the 2004 tsunami caused widespread Corals are of two broad
destruction of coral reefs in Jolly Buoy. types – either hard or soft.
The colourful soft coral has
no outer skeleton.

Angelfish
The angelfish is one of the reef’s most vividly
coloured fish. Its bright hues help to camouflage
it as well as to advertise its territory. Lion or Scorpion Fish
Measuring up to 40 cm (16 in), this
Giant Robber Crab ornate fish has venom in its rays,
One of the largest and rarest crabs which can be fatal for humans.
in the world, the giant
robber has powerful
claws that help it to
climb trees such as
the coconut palm,
and to break the hard
shell of its fruit.

Grouper Fish
The Coral Reef Among the most
Referred to as rainforests of the sea, commonly found
the multi-coloured reefs are delicate species, groupers
ecosystems that support an amazing can change their
colour to match
variety of marine life (see p651), and the rocks and
over 200 species of coral. surrounding reefs.
Staghorn
Sea sponges are Sea fan coral Mushroom
the simplest of the coral
marine animals Plate
that live attached Brain coral coral Clown fish
to the sea bed.
Sea
Giant clams anemone
can measure
up to 1 m
(3 ft).

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p703 and p718

624-625_EW_India.indd 624 26/04/17 11:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm