• The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park has proposed to introduce ecotourism in the mangrove forest area in Karankadu off East Coast Road by involving local fishermen.
• The project had been drawn to promote ecotourism in the lush green mangrove forest region, create awareness of importance of conservation of dugong, an endangered marine mammal, and provide alternative livelihood to the local fishermen.
• “The project would be implemented under Tamil Nadu Biodiversity and Greening Project.
• During boat ride, tourists could traverse through the thickly grown mangroves, nestled in the backwaters, natural river mouth and creeks. In snorkelling, the tourists would be exposed to the sea grass beds, the habitats of dugong in the shallow waters of the Palk Bay, as part of Dugong Conservation and Awareness Programme.
• Birds such as painted stork, open bill stork, spoonbill, white ibis, black ibis and black-winged stilt visited the mangroves throughout the year.

Source: The Hindu