• Entry Fee – Rs. 2 per person only 
  • Timings – 8 AM to 12 noon. After a break till 2.30 PM, museum opens again till 5 PM. Sunday is off. 
  • Duration – You can take up to 1 hour 

Located in Chatham Saw Mill’s premises, Forest Museum is an incredible combo of art and adventure. It has been famed for displaying wood work for a long time. Timber of gurjan, marble, padauk, satin wood and peauma trees is used to carve the intricate detailing on the wood works here. It also has endangered plant species which attract worldwide attention all the year round. The premises house the zoological garden to make it even more amazing. 

 

Tips for Travelers 

  • Be sure to carry your camera to capture the beautiful memories of visiting there. 
  • You can carry some water but don’t litter by throwing away bottles or plastics anywhere. 
  • Wear full sleeved clothes to avoid mosquito or insect bites in the forest region. 

Things to do 

  • The market area remains busy with different types of shops in Forest Museum located in Port Blair. 
  • You can shop some little gifts or souvenirs for loved ones. 
  • You can explore the exotic islands and serene blue waters with Andaman holiday packages.
  • You can also visit the Chatham Saw Mill, which is the major source of income for many households over there. It has very much economic importance. 

Are Guides Available?

Guides are available as written boards where you will learn about all the pieces of art. You can also ask the officials for further help. You can also get details on the web. 

When to visit?

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the weather remains favorable the whole year. The weather is neither too cold nor too hot and there are no hassles. However, you should plan your trip from November to April to get the most of your trip. You can enjoy the sightseeing during this time. It is always better to avoid visiting in rainy seasons as it gets rough sometimes. 

Getting There 

Vir Savarkar airport is the nearest airport to the museum. You can easily take a bus or cab or simply walk there. You can also take a road bridge to reach straight to this place. The museum is located on the outskirts of Port Blair and you can get there by taxi or bus. 

Trivia and Interesting Facts You Need to Know 

  • The Forest Department has well maintained the Forest Museum in Port Blair. 
  • The rich flora and fauna which was alive in the past at the forest area is beautifully described in the form of arts, carvings and artifacts. 
  • There is a huge staff engaged in cleaning up the artefacts on a regular basis. The Forest Museum also generates a lot of job opportunities here. 
  • The piece of art displayed here has intricate details where you can see the brilliance of craftsmanship. It also has a chain made of wood. You can easily explore those pieces of art. 
  • The Forest Department of Andaman has well maintained and managed the Saw Mill along with the museum. You can easily explore the wooden artifacts associated with different flora and fauna along with forest area. 
  • The Chatham Saw Mill complex, which also houses the Forest Museum, is well located in Haddo region. It is well located on the outskirts of Port Blair, which is around 29 km away. 
  • In this museum, the art and artifacts are carved beautifully from different trees like Marble, Padauk, Gurjan, Peauma, and Satin wood. These art pieces are polished regularly. You can also find different types of trees which are found in the forest region and existed earlier. 
  • Visitors need to keep track on the timing to visit the Forest Museum to have a memorable tour as timings are only from 8AM to 12 noon and from 2.30 PM to 5 PM. Museum also remains closed on Sunday. 
  • You can also visit a Zoological Garden and a Mini Zoo which are prime attractions. You can spot a lot of birds and small animals in the Andaman forest. The garden also houses some of the live endangered or endemic plant species. 

Restaurants Nearby 

  • Annapurna Café
  • New India Café
  • Waves
  • New Lighthouse Restaurant
  • Full Moon Café
  • China Room 

Other Attractions to Explore 

  • Kalapani Museum 
  • Anthropological Museum 
  • Jogger’s Park
  • Science Centre
  • Long Island

Final Thoughts

If you are planning your trip to Andaman but not going to visit the Forest Museum, you are making a big mistake. You should consider this museum in your itinerary if you are planning to enjoy sightseeing. Your visit to Forest Museum can definitely be a mesmerizing experience. Tourists can enjoy this museum and also explore Chatham Saw Mill which is one of the major sources of income for a lot of households there. In addition, the place is very peaceful and is away from the hustles and bustles of the city. So, you can explore the two important sides of Andaman by visiting the Chatham Saw Mill and Forest Museum. 

You can find a lot of rare marine species and adventures that can leave you in awe when you encounter the marvels of nature while enjoying several water sports in Andaman. The dugong is one of the lesser-known creatures which inhabits the sea and is herbivorous. The dugong is found mostly in Little Andaman and is the state animal of the islands. It is the only species alive from the Dugongidae family. Its survival is critical and its number is declining rapidly due to several reasons. It is also called the Lady of the Sea with a lifespan of over 70 years. 

These are strictly marine mammals. They are also known as sea cows because they feed completely on seagrass. They become sexually mature from 10 to 17 years. Every 5 to 7 years, a female gives birth to only one calf. Young calves depend on their mother completely for a year and a half. Hence, their population grows slowly. There are just two species of sea cow – Stellar and Manatee. 

These days, dugongs are about to become extinct in Indo-Pacific regions. The current distribution is limited along the west coast, Gulf of Kutch, the Palk Bay region, Gulf of Munnar and Andaman & Nicobar. Dugongs were completely extinct about 60 years ago in Lakshadweep waters. 

Key Features of Dugongs 

  • Herbivorous – Apart from other sirenians, Dugongs are also known as ‘sea cows’ as they mainly feed on grasses. They are the only herbivorous sea mammals with features of a cow. While eating, they ingest the whole plant along with roots. They are docile mammals living in the depths of the sea. There are hardly 50 dugongs in Andaman and their survival is a major concern for the government. 
  • Back Defense – Their back is the protective part of dugong where they deposit most of the blubber. They don’t indulge in fights and they also avoid attacking small fishes. They are calm animals like cows. They can easily avoid the attack as they show only their back to the predators and attackers.  
  • Thawte – They are also known as pani-suwar or sea pigs (Thawte) in the Andaman Islands. These mammals got this name for their bulky size and shape. They are called sea pigs for their eating behavior.  
  • Lekking – It is the process when males protect the area from other males to attract a female partner. There is a season when these creatures practice this thing. They become sexually active and mature from 8 to 18 years. Males are seen with their erupted tusks when they have high testosterone levels. 
  • Reproduction – During the lifespan of females, they give birth to few calves only. They are capable of reproducing only one calf at once. Their gestation period lasts up to 15 months. Newborns weigh up to 30 kg and they are around 4 feet long. They stay closer to their mother for up to 18 months after birth to be nursed and to learn swimming. Infants learn to feed on seagrass. Mothers are very caring to their calves and they protect against other sea creatures. Mothers teach their calves to defend with back, feed and breathe oxygen by coming out from the ocean. 

Why are they extinct?

The dugongs are found only in around 37 countries. They have been hunted for oils and meat for centuries. Due to this reason, their population has declined. Its meat is vital for oil production. Hence, they are vulnerable to human activities as they depend only on seagrasses which are found only in coastal regions. They fall under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and they are near extinction. Loss of their habitat, gill netting, squalor loss, and large scale hunting and chemical pollutants are some of the reasons for their extinction. 

What Indian Government doing to protect them?

Along with the Persian Gulf, most of Dugong also inhabit the Red Sea. There are only 200 dugongs found in the world. India is also trying to encourage its South Asian neighbors to sign UNEP/CMS Dugong MOU. 

Dugongs in the Andaman Islands 

Dugongs are mainly found in Little Andaman along Dugong Creek in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. According to a research, you can find them in several parts of Havelock Islands, Ritchie’s Archipelago of Neil Island, South Andaman (Rutland, Jolly Buoy, and Tarmugli Islands), in Hutbay, middle and North Andaman (along Reef, White Cliff, Mayabunder and Landfall islands), and along the heart of Nicobar Islands. Andaman and Nicobar region has over 50 dugongs but they are hardly surviving due to rise in poaching and declining corals. 

Commercialization is another major threat to the survival of dugong which is an endangered species. In Association with Andaman and Nicobar Environment, the Forest Department and Nature Conservation Foundation are implementing a lot of efforts for the conservation of these creatures. The government is trying hard to create a natural habitat for these creatures so they can live peacefully and reproduce well. The authorities are looking forward to knowing the habitats of such types of rare and mysterious species and to build awareness among the locals like boat owners, fishermen, and others to reduce poaching. It is known to be the first step to preserve these sea mammals. 

Final Thoughts 

All in all, the state animal of Andaman is definitely the rare mammal found across the world due to the threat of commercialization, poaching, and other human activities. Even tourists and locals should take responsibility to generate awareness about this creature and conserve it and its natural habitat. A lot of divers visit Andaman with a hope to spot this sea mammal. Book Andaman Nicobar packages now if you also want to see this animal in its own habitat. 

Andaman is equally beautiful both outside and underwater, with plenty of fishes that you haven’t even seen and don’t know until now. The fishes are one of the most beautiful creatures made by nature and you can’t even express the sheer feeling of witnessing them in the Andaman Islands. The marine life in Andaman makes the water world even more exciting if you explore. You can find a huge variety of fish species in the Andaman. We have come up with few of them – 

Ocellaris Clownfish

The False Percula Clownfish or Common Clownfish is a marine fish belonging to the Pomacentridae family. You may have seen them in many aquariums as they are easy to breed, maintain and care for. According to the location, they are found in various colors. In Andaman, they are mainly found in orange colors with white stripes and are usually harmless creatures.  

Ocellaris Clownfish

Giant Trevally 

Natively called KOKARI in Andaman, Giant Trevally is the largest fish belonging to the jack family. These giant fishes can grow up to 200 lbs of weight and plunge the reefs and surface waters. Watching the fishermen catching this fish is truly a sight to behold. It can be identified by its strong tail scutes, steep head, dark spots, and silvery color. However, males can be dark or black after getting matured. 

Giant Trevally 

Bluefin Trevally 

This fish is usually called Neel KOKARI in Andaman. These are widely distributed across the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can grow up to 43.5 kg and 117cm in length. They are identified by their tapered snout, black and blue spots on both sides and electric blue fins. It inhabits lagoons, bays, and shallow reefs, along with atolls, deeper offshore reefs, and bomboras. 

Bluefin Trevally 

Coral Trout 

The Leopards of the Reef, Coral Trout is also known as Leopard Coral Trout or Leopard Coral Grouper. It belongs to the Serranidae family and is native to its natural habitat, coral reefs, and seas. One of the main features is that they are known to change colors at different times of the day. They use every pound of weight to escape and are usually fast. They rely on prawns and a variety of reef fish for survival. 

Coral Trout 

Green Jobfish 

This fish looks really very beautiful and it belongs to the snapper family. It is well known as game fish. It inhabits a lot of reef settings and it grows up to 112 cm in length. It has great demand in the aquarium and commercial fisheries. It is well revered for its great fighting skills and speed. 

Green Jobfish 

Wahoo

Also called Kaw-wa Surmai and is found widely in blue waters, Wahoo is considered one of the fastest fishes and often comes in shallow waters. It is not easy to catch as it weighs up to 70 pounds. It is found in tropical and subtropical waters across the world. It is a valuable game fish for its speed and quality flesh. Its flesh can be delicate or dense, white or grey, and tastes like mackerel. 

Wahoo

King Mackerel 

Popularly known as kingfish, King Mackerel is a migratory mackerel species which has a great demand for recreational and commercial fishing industries. They weigh around 70 lbs and grow around 2m in size. This medium size fish is hardly seen and is covered with loosely attached, small scales. Its color is olive on the back which fades to silver and rosy indescence. 

King Mackerel 

Barracuda

Weighing up to 45kgs, Barracuda is a predatory, large fish with ray fins known for weight to escape. They look very furious and scary. It is a saltwater fish and cannot be kept in aquariums or school. It changes colors in neon shades and fights with high jumps. They live for around 5 years. It is found in subtropical and tropical oceans across the world. 

Barracuda

Skipjack Tuna 

Skipjack tuna is one of the widely available and beautiful fishes of the Andaman Islands and is really an amazing fish to eat. It can pump up more blood to its body as its heart is three times larger than its actual size. Hence, it swims with complete force and indulges in fierce fight. It is medium size and belongs to the tuna family. It is also known as mush mouth, arctic bonito, balaya, tongkol, striped tuna, oceanic bonito or victor fish. It is found in warm and tropical waters. 

Skipjack Tuna 

Dorado 

Andaman natives call it Haathi Kokari and it is also known as Mahi Mahi or Dolphin fish. This species has single dorsal fins and compressed heads running the full length of bodies of fishes. They can grow up to 40kg. It is believed that they use their high-pitched volume to communicate like dolphins.  It is an offshore game fish and males have a flat forehead. It works hard to break through the fishermen’s clutches. 

Dorado 

Hawai Surmai 

They are known to have bills like swords that are used to threaten the attackers and bait. Their backside is in dark blue color and the belly is in silver-white color. They usually weigh up to 110 kg and over 3m long. It is also not easy to catch and used as a famous dish in Andaman. 

Bottom Line 

These colorful and vivid fishes in Andaman are like living stars in the ocean. Every fish is a soul blessed by nature with different qualities and features. On the secluded shores of Andamans, the deep sea is a paradise where no one intrudes. You will definitely fall in love with Andaman Islands tourism with their water kingdom and serenity. They are known to have diverse flora which shouldn’t be missed. The tour to the islands can be complemented with the tourists diving in the depth of sea waters and you can witness the depths of the ocean