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Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

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Fast facts Date of Establishment- 1969. Area covered- 240 square kilometers. Chief ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥- Leopards, king cobra, gaur and deers. Location- The sanctuary is located on the eastern side of Goa i.e. near the Western Ghats in Sanguem Taluka.   Explore the wilds of Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary! Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary was established in the year 1969. Earlier, it was known as Mollem Game Sanctuary and name was changed after some time. The sanctuary lies on the road that leads to Belgaum from Panaji. It is one of the largest sanctuaries in Goa and covers a vast tract of land around 240 square kilometers. The sanctuary is divided into two halves by the National Highway 4A and by the railway line of Londa-Mormugao. There are various beautiful waterfalls like the famous Dudhsagar falls, which is located near the sanctuary. The best time for visiting goa and  the sanctuary is between the months of Octobers to March.   Diverse Flora! Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary comes under the geographical province of 5A/5B. The place is very rich in natural vegetation cover and can be divided into three types of forests i.e. West coast semi - evergreen forests, West coast tropical evergreen forests and the moist deciduous forests. The evergreen forests generally occur on higher elevations or near the river banks due to the abundant availability of water in such areas. Some of the common species of vegetation found here include lagerstromia, dalbergia, terminalia, xylia and many more. The growth of grass here is very much limited.   Fauna Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is paradise for wildlife lovers as they can enjoy various species of animals here. Some of the common types of animals that dwell here include spotted deer, sambar, flying squirrel, porcupine, leopard cat, panther, barking deer, common langur, wild dog, pangolin, jungle cat, gaur, tigers and many more. The chief attraction of the sanctuary is the king cobra, which is found here in abundance. One can also see various other snakes like krait, python, viper etc.   Avifauna Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is a home to around 200species of various types of birds. There are various types of birds like Malabar pied hornbill, Indian black woodpecker, great Indian horn bill, kingfishers, paradise fly catcher, shrikes, grey jungle fowl etc.   How to Reach! Road- The sanctuary is well connected by road and is only 60kms from Panaji. Air- The closest airport is located at Dabolim (80km). Rail- The closest railway station is at Colem, which is at a distance of 5kms from the sanctuary.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

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This is Goa's only bird sanctuary, 1.8 Sq Km in area. A variety of local and migratory birds can be found on this island. From Panaji , one needs to take a bus or a cab to the Ribandar ferry wharf and then take a ferry across the Mandovi river to the island of Chorao. The sanctuary is within walking distance from the ferry wharf at Chorao. On the western tip of the island of Chorao along River Mandovi, mangrove swamps cover this bird-watchers' paradise aptly named after India's best-known ornithologist. Open throughout the year, the sanctuary can be visited with the permission of the Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji. Apart from a rich variety of coastal birds, one may spot flying foxes, jackals and crocodiles. The area consists of mangrove vegetation. Mangrove ecosystems are among the most productive ones known to us. They provide refuge and breeding grounds for several varieties of fish and insects which fall at the base of the food-chain. The "Mangrove Scrub" type of vegetation that is found here occurs in small isolated areas along the banks of Mandovi and Mapusa rivers and also along the Cumbarjua canal. This Sanctuary is criss-crossed with a network of water channels. So movement is restricted to the duration of high tide if one wants to go by boats. However for canoes, the creeks are accessible even during low tides. A watch-tower has been erected in the Sanctuary for better viewing of birds. Apart from the several resident birds, the Sanctuary also has some winter visitors like coots and pintails.