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| Goa Wildlife |
| Featured Destinations of South India : |
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Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary |
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Location: Border of Ponda and Sanguem district, North East Goa |
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Highlights: Botanical Garden, Rose Garden, Deer Park, numerous species of animals |
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Spread over an area of around 8 square kilometers, the Bondla wildlife sanctuary is the smallest wildlife sanctuary in Goa. The landscape of the Bondla wildlife sanctuary is strikingly beautiful and the lush green vegetation provides a natural ecosystem. The Bondla national park has a Botanical Garden, Rose Garden and Deer Park within its premises. One can also opt for a jeep safari inside the deer park in the Bondla sanctuary. This sanctuary is a favorite among school children who come here for educational excursions. Hire a vehicle from either Ponda or Sanguem to reach here. There is a Nature Education Center over here that shows wildlife videos to tourists in order to provide vital information and knowledge about the wildlife. The Bondla sanctuary remains closed on Thursdays |
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Flora |
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The forest cover of Bondla wildlife sanctuary consists of moist deciduous forests and evergreen vegetation patches. One can find bamboo plantations along with trees like Terninalia Crenulata also known as Matti, Rosewood, Lagerstroemia, Kindall, Jamba, Mimusops, etc.
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Fauna |
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The Bondla wildlife sanctuary has numerous species of animals. A zoo was established here some years back that used to provide shelter to injured wild animals or abused animals like snakes, bears, etc. The wild animals that are housed here include Panthers, Jungle Cats, Leopard Cats, various species of Deer (Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Barking Deer and Mouse Deer), Wild Boar, Crocodiles, Snakes and Malabar Giant Squirrels. One can also view numerous bird species like woodpeckers, kingfishers, hornbills, etc |
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Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary |
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Location: Canacona district, South Goa |
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Highlights: Watchtowers to view wildlife, Nature Interpretation Center, varied wildlife |
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The Cotigao wildlife sanctuary is located in the Canacona district in south Goa. This sanctuary was established in the year 1969. It covers an area of 86 square kilometers and is the second largest sanctuary in Goa. To reach the Catigao national park, you will have to hire a vehicle of your own and reach from nearby places in south Goa. One can watch the animals from the 25 meter high watchtower that is located near the Talpona River that flows through this sanctuary. The animals come to this river often to quench their thirst and can be viewed around evening or early morning. The sanctuary also houses a Nature Interpretation Center that provides fascinating and valuable information about the wildlife here |
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Flora |
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The Cotigao sanctuary of Goa has a thick cover of vegetation. There are basically three types of vegetation that is found over here that includes moist deciduous (dominant vegetation), semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. The lush and thick vegetation growth provides natural shelter to a plethora of animal and bird species |
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Fauna |
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The Cotigao wildlife sanctuary has numerous species of wild animals. These species include sloth bears, deer, wild boars, panthers, laughing hyenas and Indian Bisons. There also a number of bird species here, the most popular ones to be spotted are Rufus Woodpecker, white-eyed eagle, Malabar crested eagle, White bellied woodpecker, etc. Apart from animals and birds, there are also a vast number of reptiles that include poisonous and non-poisonous snakes |
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Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary |
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Location: Sanguem district, South Goa |
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Highlights: Dudhsagar Falls, Devil's |
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The Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary out of the four sanctuaries located in Goa. Spread over an area of 240 square kilometers, the Bhagvan Mahaveer sanctuary is located amongst the thick forest cover on the slopes of the Western Ghats. The lush green forest cover is home to a variety of animals and birds. The Bhagwan Mahavir sanctuary also has interesting geographical formations like the Devil's Canyon and the Dudhsagar Waterfalls. The Devil's Canyon also makes an ideal watch tower from where one can view the wildlife here. The core of this wildlife sanctuary consists of the Mollem national park. It is recommended that you stay here for a couple of days to view the wildlife in a sanctuary as big as this one. Accommodation facilities are provided by the Directorate of Tourism |
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Flora |
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The location of the sanctuary on the slopes of the Western Ghats has enabled a luxuriant growth of vegetation and varied flora over here. The vegetation consists of a mix of tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests. One can find plant species like Lagerstroemia, Xylia and Dalbergia in Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary. The thick vegetation forms a canopy over the sanctuary due to which sunlight is hardly able to reach the floor of the forest. Thus, the growth of grass is sparse but one can find bushes and shrubs here |
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Funna |
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The wildlife in this sanctuary is varied and one can find big, small, herbivores and carnivores co-existing in natural environment. The species of animals here include the Indian Bison known as Gaur, Sambhar Deer, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Slender Toris, Jungle Cats, Malayan Giant Squirrels, Pythons and Cobras. This sanctuary is particularly noted for leopards and its numerous reptile species. One can find many species of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes here. Among the birds one can find species like Black Woodpecker, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Paradise Fly Catcher, Drongo, Wag tails, Barbets, Great Indian Horn Bill, Kingfishers, Shrikes, Emerald Dove, Grey Jungle Fowl, etc |
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Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary |
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Location: Chorao Island on the Mandovi River, Goa |
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Highlights: 400 species of birds, local and migratory |
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Dr. Salim Ali Bird sanctuary is one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India. It has been named after the famous ornithologist of India, Dr. Salim Ali. This bird sanctuary is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries in Goa and is spread over an area of just 1.8 square kilometers. Even though it is small, it has a variety of species of birds and plants. Numerous tourists visit this sanctuary to observe the delightful winged creatures. Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary houses not just local but exotic migratory birds as well. In order to visit this sanctuary, one must seek the permission of Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department of Panaji. |
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Flora |
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The sanctuary is rich in flora growth and one can see a thick covering of mangrove vegetation here. The flora cover is very fertile over here the mangrove ecology is considered to be the best for birds, fish and insects to multiply. They provide thick shelter for the birds and are their natural abodes |
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Funna |
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Here one can find local as well as migratory birds. The best time to see the migratory birds is right after the monsoons around the month of October to March. The weather is quite pleasant then and the birds come here in plenty. One can find kingfishers, pintails, coots, egrets, etc. among the birds. If you are observant you may also spot crocodiles, jackals and foxes |
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Inorder to savour the natural beauty of South India, we have designed the following tour packages for the discerning travellers |
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