Wildlife Sanctuary

An area of land managed to conserve wildlife (usually animals), is a naturally

occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species
from hunting, predation or competition, it is a protected area, a geographic
territory within which wildlife is protected.
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa
There are three Wild Life Game Sanctuaries and a Bird Sanctuary in Goa:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Wild Life Sanctuary

The Bondla Wild Life Game Sanctuary
The Cotigao Wild Life Game Sanctuary and
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

THE BONDLA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is located in northeastern Goa, India in Ponda
taluk. The total area of the park is 8 km2. It is a popular destination for both
tourists and schoolchildren.
The smaller of the three Game sanctuaries is the Bondla Game sanctuary
situated 38 kms from Margao and 20 kms east of Ponda. It has a mini Zoo, a
sprawling Deer Park in natural habitat. The area is covered with moist
Deciduous forests with small patches of evergreens and Canes along the
nullahs. The state tree Terminalia crenulata (Matti) and Rosewood are
common here. Others are Lagerstroemia, (Naked maiden of the forest),
Kindali, Jamba, Mimusops, Saraca, Indica etc. The thorny bamboo Bambuza,
arundinacea and Giant Lianas (Entada) abound.
Gaur the state animal is frequently seen. The Panther is the largest carnivora
and the jungle cat Leopard, Toddy cat, are ocassionally seen. The Herbivorous
consists of Deer (samba, spotted, Hog Barking, and Mouse), Wild Boar,
Porcupines Scaly, Ant Eater and Malabar Giant Squirrel.
Over a hindres species of birds are residenced. The State Bird, Ruby throated
yellow Bulbul can be frequently seen and the common grey hornbill and
golden backed woodpecker are daily visitors to the gardens.

The Zoological Park permits one to see the fauna og Goa in moated enclosures
with natural surroundings. The animals to be seen are Panther, Lion, Gaur,
Samba, Deer, Sloth Bear, Crocodiles and Reptiles.
THE COTIGAO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
If one wants to see multi storeyed forests with tall trees and rare plants where
hardly any light reaches the ground, then the Cotigao Sanctuary is the place to
go to. It is situated in the Canacona Taluka in the south of Goa. The vegetation
is mostly moist deciduous with evergreen patches.
The Nature Interpretation Center run by the Forest Department is a valuable
Repository of Knowledge. At present the Department is capable of providing
rudimentary facilities like Snake proof camping sites, canvas tents, reference
material. The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1969 to cover 86
sq kms of mixed deciduous woodland.
The sanctuary has a 25 mtr high Tree top watch tower over looking a
waterhole that attracts a few animals at the crack of dawn and at dusk.
Animals in the sanctuary include the flying squirrel, slender loris, Indian
pangolin, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, Malabar pit viper, hump-nosed
pit viper, white-bellied woodpecker, Malabar trogon, velvet-fronted nuthatch,
heart-spotted woodpecker, speckled piculet, Malayan bittern, draco or flying
lizard, golden-back gliding snake, and Malabar tree toad.