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Herald, 3 Jan 05 Coral reefs, topography saved Andaman tribes The coral reefs on the west coast of Andaman, which have assumed the shape of boulders, and the littoral trees dotting the landscape acted as natural barriers and prevented the killer waves from ringing the death knell on the tribes PORT BLAIR, UNI Anthropologists, studying the effect of the killer tsunami on the indigenous tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have said that the coral reefs and the dense littoral forest dotting the west coast of Andaman could have prevented the tribes from meeting their doom in the recent disaster. ''Though tsunami wreaked havoc in Nicobar, where the Shompens and the Nicobarese live, it could not cause any major damage in the area where the Jarawas, the Onges and the Great Andamanese live. The coral reefs on the west coast of Andaman, which have assumed the shape of boulders, and the littoral trees dotting the landscape acted as natural barriers and prevented the killer waves from ringing the death knell on the tribes,'' Dr S S Barik of the Anthropological Survey of India here said. The Great Andamanese, who live in the Strait Island, about 60 km from here, are also believed to have survived the tragedy because of the topography of the land. Similarly, the Ongees, who inhabit the Dugon Creek in Little Andamans, are believed to have escaped the fury of the waves by fleeing into the forest. ''We have received reports that 73 Ongees have been rescued from there,'' he said. ''But the Nicobarese, numbering around 25,000, suffered the worst damage as Car Nicobar, where they live, was pummelled by the waves as it is a relatively flat land and is close to the coast. The Shompens, who inhabit the Great Nicobar Island, are believed to have escaped the nature's wrath by climbing on to higher ground. links Related articles on Tsunami and the environment |
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