Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam

Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam, is a botanical garden, an ex situ conservation park, first of its kind in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] The park is located in the premises of the Rani Chandramani Devi Government Hospital. It extends over 3 acres (1.2 ha). Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS), Visakhapatnam, a registered, eco-friendly, non-government organization, has maintained it for 13 years and is now maintaining it in collaboration with the hospital and Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority.[2] The park was inaugurated on 5 June 2002.[1] This park has more than 2,000 species of plants.[3] and has recorded visits by 60 species of birds and 105 species of butterflies.[4] The park has become a "living laboratory" for education, awareness and research for students, and botanists, zoologists and researchers.[5][6][7]

Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam
Inauguration Stone
TypeBiodiversity park ex situ / educative botanical garden
LocationRani Chandramani Devi Government Hospital, Pedda Waltair, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates17.7290304°N 83.3364321°E / 17.7290304; 83.3364321
Area3 acres
Operated byDNCS in co-ordination with VMRDA and RCD Govt. Hospital
StatusOpen all year

Zones
Interpretation and Training Centre

The park has 10 major zones:[8]

  • Sacred Groves
  • Living Fossil plants of Jurassic times (Gymnosperms)
  • Cacti and Succulents
  • Ornamental Plants
  • Aquatic Plants
  • Medicinal or Herbal and Aromatic Plants
  • Insectivorous Plants
  • Orchids
  • Ferns
  • Bamboo and Palm Groves

These sections harbour very rare and endangered species like maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) and botanical oddities or curiosities like Krishna's butter cup, holy cross, Jesus smile, autograph tree, upside-down tree, Mickey Mouse tree, laughing Buddha bamboo, octopus tree.[3][6] It has a 'green house or polynetted house', 'pond', 'cactus & succulent conservatory'. The society started a information-cum-training centre,[9] to conduct workshops and training programs.

Plants
Cacti and succulents photography workshop

The Biodiversity Park contains the following groups of plant:

  • Sacred plants of Sacred Groves zone: Sacred groves section harbors plant species related to Ganesha worship (21 plants), Nakshatra vanam / birth stars or star constellations (27 plants), Raasi vana / Zodiac signs (12 plants), Saptharishi vana / 7 Indian sages garden (7 plants) and Navagraha vana (9 plants).[10][11]
  • Medicinal / Herbal and Aromatic: Nearly 500 species of Medicinal plants or Medicinal herbs, including Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), Sandal wood (Santalum album) Naabhi (Gloriosa superba), Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Podapatri (Gymnema sylvestre), Insulin plant (Costus igneus).[12]
  • Ornamentals: Over 200 varieties, such as Nagalingam, Ixoras, Passion flowers, Cats tail, Morning Kiss, James Bond 007, Mickey Mouse flowers.[13]
  • Cacti: Nearly 100 varieties.
  • Succulents: 300 varieties, including Lithops spp.[14].
  • Aquatic plants: Over 50 species, including Victoria amazonica.[15] Some other examples are: Lilies, Lotus, Equisitum, Vallisneria, Hydrilla, Potamogeton. The park has mangrove plants like Avicennia marina with respiratory roots or pneumatophores, Sea brites, Acanthophyllum etc.
  • Bromeliads: 15 species of bromeliads are cultivated, including plants that live on air ex:Tillandsia.[16]
  • Ferns: Species cultivated include Nephrolepis (Swordfern), Asplenium nidus (Bird's nest fern), Pteris, Polypodium, Asplenium hemionitis – Star Fern (Notholaenaceae), Hemionitis arifolia – Heart Fern (Notholaenaceae).
  • Insectivorous plants: Nepenthes (Pitcher plant).[17][3]
  • Bamboo Grove: 5 species of bamboo are seen, including Laughing Buddha bamboo, Golden bamboo, Green bamboo.
  • Palm Grove: Over 25 species, including Foxtail palm, Fishtail palm, Bottle palm, Lipstick palm
  • Arboretum: This includes over 200 native and exotic tree species.[8]


Birds
Little Green or Green Bee Eater Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam

60 species of birds have been recorded in the park, including Golden-backed woodpecker, Spotted owlet, Parakeets, Brahminy starling, Greater Coucal, Red-whiskered bulbul , Purple sunbird and Barn owl.[12]

Butterflies
Hypolimnas misippus, the Danaid eggfly freshly hatched biodiversity park visakhapatnam
Common Crow Pupa observation Biodiversity park visakhapatnam
Tirumala limniace, the blue tiger clustering on Crotalaria biodiversity park visakhapatnam

More than 100 species belonging to 6 families were observed in the Eastern Ghats Forests and Urban Environments of Visakhapatnam District, of which the family Papilionidae (Swallowtail butterflies) is represented by more than 10 species, Pieridae (yellow and whites) with more than 20 species, Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies) with more than 30 species, Lycaenidae (Blues) with more than 20 species, Riodinidae (metalmarks) / (Punches and Judies) with 1 species and Hesperiidae (Skippers) with more than 10 species.[18][19] Some species of male butterflies ex. crows n tigers show interesting mechanism called clustering. During monsoon months, males congregate around some species of plants like Crotalaria retusa, Heliotropium indicum to suck some alkaloides or sex pheromones which are essential for mating. [20][21] [22] [23]

Cyclone Hudhud

In October 2014 Cyclone Hudhud caused extensive damage and loss of life in eastern India and Nepal. The entire park was severely damaged and almost became like a graveyard; almost all tree species were uprooted, fences destroyed, and the pond, greenhouse and cacti house collapsed.[24][25][26] The park was rejuvenated within a span of one year by student volunteers with government support.[9][27]

Awards

The Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS) received two Andhra Pradesh Government state level awards for the development and maintenance of Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam.[13]

See also

References
  1. "breathing new life". frontline. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. Ganguly, Nivedita (29 July 2017). "fascinating world of plant kingdom" – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. "Biodiversity Park in city has rare species". 14 March 2016 – via www.thehindu.com.
  4. Ganguly, Nivedita (17 August 2018). "Causing a flutter in Vizag" – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. Ganguly, Nivedita (9 March 2016). "attracts students from all places" – via www.thehindu.com.
  6. Devalla, Rani (30 January 2013). "Rare species of plants and trees impress them" – via www.thehindu.com.
  7. "The open air biology lab in Vizag". 12 January 2019.
  8. "Krishna's Butter Cup: Generation Y join hands to conserve biodiversity | Visakhapatnam News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  9. Ganguly, Nivedita (10 June 2014). "A step forward in spreading environmental awareness" – via www.thehindu.com.
  10. "Sacred groves inaugurated at hospital | Visakhapatnam News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  11. Reporter, Staff (5 February 2017). "A 'sacred grove' inaugurated at Biodiversity Park" – via www.thehindu.com.
  12. "RCD hospital's biodiversity park houses over 500 medicinal plants, 60 species of birds | Visakhapatnam News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  13. Ganguly, Nivedita (18 July 2018). "In the kingdom of plants" – via www.thehindu.com.
  14. "'Living pebbles' latest addition to Biodiversity Park". 4 October 2016 – via www.thehindu.com.
  15. Ganguly, Nivedita (21 October 2017). "From the Amazon forests" – via www.thehindu.com.
  16. Ganguly, Nivedita (16 February 2018). "plants that live on air" – via www.thehindu.com.
  17. Ganguly, Nivedita (10 March 2016). "Plants that feed on insects" – via www.thehindu.com.
  18. "Girls discover 25 new species of butterflies". Deccan Chronicle. 17 September 2014.
  19. Susarla, Ramesh (21 February 2011). "Bio-diversity Park attracts many butterflies" – via www.thehindu.com.
  20. Ganguly, Nivedita (31 August 2017). "Butterflies are back again at Biodiversity Park" – via www.thehindu.com.
  21. Ganguly, Nivedita (21 July 2014). "Come monsoon, they create a flutter" – via www.thehindu.com.
  22. Rama Murty, M, A. Rohini, STPL. Ushasri, Ch. Girija Rani, P. Sharon, S.Pavani and U. Joshna Rani. 2013: Preliminary study on Butterfly Diversity in the Biodiversity Park of Rani Chandramati Devi Government Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Advances in Pollen Spore Research Vol. XXXI (2013): 151–159.
  23. Ganguly, Nivedita (17 August 2018). "Causing a flutter in Vizag" – via www.thehindu.com.
  24. "Living lab laid waste". 20 October 2014 – via www.thehindu.com.
  25. "Hudhud leaves Biodiversity Park ravaged in Vizag". Deccan Chronicle. 19 October 2014.
  26. Ganguly, Nivedita (17 March 2016). "Biodiversity Park set to get a facelift soon" – via www.thehindu.com.
  27. "nature lovers plant rare saplings". The Hindu. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
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