2. Andaman & Nicobar Island
People and their Culture
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to various native communities and settlers. The
people on these islands are mainly divided into two categories: the indigenous tribal people and
outside settlers.
• The culture of Andaman and Nicobar is diverse and comprises various native communities and
descendants of people who arrived on the island during the colonial period.
• The island has a mixed culture characterized by the two distinct native populations. The Andaman
Islands are home to four ‘Negrito’ tribes – the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Sentinelese.
The Nicobar Islands are home to two ‘Mongoloid’ tribes – the Shompen and Nicobarese. The
people of Andaman and Nicobar speak many languages.
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3. Flora and fauna
• The Andamans are home to some of the richest varieties of
flora and fauna, with 86% of the Andaman & Nicobar islands
covered in primary tropical rainforests. Of the 2000 plus species
of plants that grow on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, at least
1,300 are exclusive and not found in mainland India.
• The Andaman and Nicobar islands are home to nine national
parks and nearly a hundred marine and wildlife sanctuaries that
offer extraordinary experiences and diverse ecosystems.
Interview island, 3 hours off Mayabunder, houses the largest
wildlife sanctuary in the Andamans. The Landfall Island Wildlife
Sanctuary is great for spotting wildlife in their natural habitats
and is popular for its water sports. Mount Harriet National Park
offers some of the richest butterfly diversity in the world and
the Andaman Islands are home to some of the largest
butterflies globally.
