Mangroves of Wright Myo Creek, Seeing is Believing

Mangroves of Wright Myo Creek, Seeing is Believing

By
Debkumar Bhadra

Situated at a distance of about 48 km from Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Wright Myo is a small village known for its enigmatic mangrove lined creeks and thick luxuriant forest cover. Being on the western side of South Andaman Island, Wright Myo escaped the devastating effects of tsunami triggered by the 26 December 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. The creeks of Wright Myo region thus boasts of harboring South Andaman’s finest mangroves in its grandeur. 

Not only mangroves, the semi-evergreen forests on the eastern side of Wright Myo - Shoal Bay road, belonging to Manipur Parvat (earlier called Mount Harriet) National Park range is Andaman’s best known wilderness. It is also worth mentioning that during 203 a group of researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute discovered an interesting tree species identified as Eugenia mooniana Wight belonging to Myrtaceous genus from the semi-evergreen forests of Wright Myo. 

Interesting, not just, because only one population of about 12 mature plants with few seedlings were recorded, from near a rivulet at Wright Myo. I consider the discovery interesting because hitherto Eugenia mooniana was reported only from five Indian states (namely Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka. Discovery of Eugenia mooniana from Andaman Islands, with fragmented distribution of several other floristic elements hitherto reported only from Sri Lanka, Western Ghats and select Indian mainland states endorse the continental connection (Gondwanaland) of these insular bay islands with the Indian peninsula and Sri Lanka in the remote past. 

The Ex-Pradhan of Mannar Ghat Gram Panchayat, Shri O Bashir, who has been quite persistent in his approach towards development of the region, however brings in a completely different perspective. Recalling the day when Shri Bashir undertook a boat ride into the Wright Myo creek along with the then Chief Secretary, Divisional Forest Officer South Andaman and Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman).

He said, all though the childhood, daily he would witness about 200-250 men with machete in hand and axe on the shoulder, landing at Wright Myo jetty early in the morning, cutting and felling mangroves trees, dragging them out of the creeks, loading them on trucks and sending them off to be burnt as fuel in the boilers of plywood manufacturing factory. 

The scene however has changed in the past couple of decades following Apex court ban on felling of naturally grown trees and subsequent shutting down and winding up of wood based manufacturing industries from A&N Islands. Forests especially mangroves has since made a slow but steady comeback.

The spark observed in the eyes of officers taking the boat ride through the mangrove lined creeks of Wright Myo, changed the outlook towards mangroves which he have been carrying all through his childhood. He began to feel, the serene back waters, the mangroves and the mesmerizing natural beauty of Wright Myo creek bear tremendous tourism potential which could be harnessed for providing livelihood option to local unemployed youths as an alternative to the pasts’ destructive means. 

It will not be out of place to mention Mangrove also called as Mangal, represent a very special and unique class of forest ecosystem found in coastal, brackish water, inter-tidal mudflat regions in the tropic and sub-tropic latitudes. They are special in the sense they have a unique salt filtration system in their roots that help cope saltwater immersion and thrive in low oxygen, waterlogged intertidal mudflat regions. 

Mangroves perform several important ecological services and functions including providing livelihood opportunities to coastal communities. The entangled and complex root system help withstand wave action, reduce flooding and prevent erosion of coastlines. Mangroves are therefore also referred as bio-shield against cyclonic winds. Mangroves also serve as nurseries for fishes and a wide variety of other marine animals. They are home for an astounding number of birds, bees and moths. Recent studies suggest mangroves store more carbon per acre than most other forests. Thus their role in combating climate change is actively being propounded by climate scientists. 

According to India State of Forest Report 2021 published by Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Govt of India, with a total mangrove cover of 616 sqkm, Andaman and Nicobar Islands rank third among the twelve mangrove regions in the country. At the island level, North and Middle Andaman district has a total mangrove cover of 424.66 sqkm, South Andaman has 189.76 sqkm and Nicobar district has 2.03 sqkm under Mangrove cover. 

Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Department of Environment and Forest have taken several steps towards development of Wright Myo and its surroundings as an ecotourism spot. A mangrove interpretation centre equipped with audio-vedio and modest arrangement to seat about 15-20 visitors is already in place at Wright Myo jetty. There is also a mini park and an exhibition hut depicting various components of mangrove ecosystem and the ecological services they provide. The watch tower near the remains of old Wright Myo jetty gives visitor a panoramic view of the surrounding lush green environment. Way side amenities including, eco-friendly sit-outs made of locally collected minor forest produce, a wooden jetty, dhaba and a toilet block has already been constructed under various development scheme of A&N Administration. A 200 m mangrove walkway is also on the cards. 

To give further boost to rural economy through tourism and allied sector initiatives, Niti Aayog under Package VI shortlisted a total of 8 islands/sites in Andaman & Nicobar Islands for holistic development. The sites include Karmatang Beach, Aamkunj Beach, Raman Bagicha Beach, Rutland Island, Good will Estate (Port Blair), Flat Bay Island near Chouldari, South Andaman, Little Andaman (Buttler Bay and Kalapathhar Beach) and Wright Myo Creek  in Ferrar Gunj Tehsil of South Andaman district. 

Presently a creek ride service namely SS Creek Rider is being operated by two youths of the locality namely O Mohd Haneefa (9434279552) and E M Rafeeque (9476079320). One of the package on offer include an hour and a half duration joyride into the creeks onboard 10+2 seater FRP boat fitted with Yamaha OBM. The ride starting from Wright Myo jetty takes visitors into an exhilarating journey though the serene creek giving visitors ample opportunity to see island’s best kept mangrove forests, in its grandeur. 

One can also avail the boat service to visit Green Island near Shoal Bay - 8 or to approach the sea beach at Shoal Bay – 18 which is fast catching up as another day picnic spot in the lines of Redskin Island. Whichever package or spot one may choose, best part is the boat ride through the creek which is no less enchanting and fulfilling than the intended destination. 

Wright Myo - Shoal Bay road runs through the Padauk bagicha said to be 100 years old 

If someone asks me to sum-up the experience, all I can say is, there are quite a few spots that attract tourists, nature enthusiasts and bird watchers into the area, such as Parachattan water fall, Kalatang birding spot, century old Padauk bagicha, Sea Beach at Shoal Bay-19 etc, but when it comes to Mangroves of Wright Myo creek, seeing is believing.

Related Reading:
👉 Mt Harriet, now Mount Manipur National Park, the most sought after wilderness in Andamans

👉 An Officer, in the thick of Mt Harriet

👉 Aqueduct at Panighat, tale of an ancient wisdom turning from ruins to rubble