Andaman & Nicobar Islands are blessed with a unique luxuriant evergreen tropical rainforest canopy, sheltering a bio-reserve, comprising of Indian, Burmese, Malaysian and common floral species. Presently, about 2200 varieties of plants have been recorded. 200 of them are common. 1300 are not found in mainland India.

Beautiful forests, greenlands and vegetation in different regions of the Island

The South Andaman forests have a copious growth of vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids. The Middle Andaman harbours mostly moist deciduous forests. North Andaman is characterised by the wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers.

The north Nicobar Islands are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars.

This tropical rain forest in A & N, despite its isolation from adjacent land masses, is surprisingly rich with a diversity of animal life.

Wildlife

About 50 varieties of animals are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some are local, including the Andaman Wild Boar. Rodents are the largest group with 26 species, followed by 14 species of bats.

Among the larger animals, there are two local varieties of wild boars which are protected. The Spotted Deer, Barking Deer and Sambar were all introduced to the Andaman.  But Sambar deer did not survive.

Interview Island (the largest wildlife sanctuary in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) in Middle Andaman holds a population of feral elephants. These elephants were brought in for forest work by a timber company, which subsequently released.

Andaman & Nicobar has also 270 species of birds (including the common ones). The State Bird of the Andaman is the Andaman Wood pigeon. Some common birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are:  Andaman Hawk Owl, Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Crake, Brown Coucal (formerly Andaman Coucal)

The Islands house some of the larger and most spectacular butterflies of the world. It is said one can find around 225 species, of which ten are common to these Islands. Mount Harriet National Park is one of the richest areas of butterfly and moth diversity on these Islands.

Sea Shells are Andaman & Nicobar's specialty art

Sea Shells are perhaps the most colourful and fascinating objects known to man other than Gems since time immemorial.

They served as money, ornaments, musical instruments, drinking cups, in magic and in the making of fine porcelains. They were also the symbols in rituals and religious observances, and the returning pilgrims wore them as a token of divine pardon.

Andaman and Nicobar have been traditionally known for their shell wealth. Special to mention are Turbo, Trochus, Murex and Nautilus varieties.

Shells are important to these islands because some used as novelties supporting many cottage industries producing a wide range of decorative items & ornaments. Sea Shells such as Giant clam, Green mussel and Oyster support edible shell-fishery.

A few like Scallop, Clam and Cockle are burnt to produce lime. The Univalve shell, belonging to the Gastropod shell family, namely the Valampuri Shank- the Sacred White Conch (Shank) is found in ANI. This conch shell is special & rare and is used in many Hindu religious rituals.

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