Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

Area: 404 sq kms/40,040 ha
Location: 50-km From Chennai, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh

Description:
Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is in Nelapattu village. It is located on the East Coast about 20-km north of Pulicat in the Nellore district. It is just 50-km from Chennai. The Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is one of the largest pelican habitats in Southeast Asia.

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary provides fine breeding ground for rare and endangered species like Spoted Billed Pelican, Open-Billed Stork, Painted Stork, Little Cormorant, Spoon-Bill, White-Ibis and Night Heron. It is a small fresh water irrigation tank with Barringtonia trees spread in the water, which can withstand inundation for longer periods in the tank bed.

The birds for perching and nesting prefer the foreshore areas. It is a good place to seea diverse species of waders and water birds. Apart from it it is a huge peliconry.

The reserve forest area has mammals like jackals, slender loris and spotted deer and reptiles like snakes, tortoises and monitor lizards. Nelapattu has an environmental education centre, museum, library and an auditorium with audio-visual equipment.

Visiting Season:
October To March

Access:
By Air: Chennai is the nearest airport to Nelapattu.
By Rail The nearest railway station is at Sulurpet.
By Road: Nelapattu is 50-km by road from Chennai highway. It is well connected by buses.

Accommodation and facilities:
PWD Rest House, Sulurpet

Wildlife
The area is a very good palce to see birds like Open Bill Stork, Coot, Night Heron, Pelicans, Flamingos, Babblers and several species of warblers. It is also a good place to see waders.