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Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary


Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary is a 240 sq km protected natural habitat located in the Western Ghats of India, on the Goa-Karnataka border. Touted to be Goa's largest wildlife reserve, it is home to the famous Dudhsagar Falls, Mollem National Park, Tambdi Surla Temple, and Devil's Canyon among other attractions. It houses a variety of plants, birds, and animals and thus is popular amongst nature lovers and hikers.

The green zone of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary consists of west-coast semi-evergreen, tropical-evergreen and moist deciduous forests that create a natural habitat for a wide variety of animals and birds. It is home to the Dhangar community and has temples built by the Kadamba Dynasty. The park is also home to a community of nomadic buffalo herders known as Dhangar.

Wildlife and Fauna in Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

The area covered by the sanctuary is heavily forested and is famous for pristine vegetation - West Coast tropical evergreen forests and deciduous forests which are found on the higher altitudes along the banks of perennial rivers. The state bird of Goa, Ruby-throated Yellow Bulbul is the most common of 120 species of birds found here. The primary species of trees found include Terminalia, Xylia and Timber trees. Due to density, sunlight does not reach the forest floor in many places. The trees are home to an estimate of 722 species of flowering plants and 128 species of plants. Apart from greenery, the sanctuary is the natural habitat of several species of animals including Deer, Sambar, Spotted deer, Hof, Tiger, Panther, Toddy cat, Leopard cat. In addition to these, one can also spot civet, bonnet, jackal, types of squirrels, sloth bear, hyena, Golden Oriole, Emerald Dove, Common Grey Hornbill, Malabar Trogan, Scarlet Minivet, Asian Palm Swift, Jungle Owlet, Forest