The state of Goa is located in the western part of India. Even though it is India`s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population, its varied forms of water bodies have made it popular among travelers. Wildlife Sanctuaries of Goa also form part of the places of attraction in the state. These wildlife sanctuaries are described below.
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Goa"s town of Mollem. This sanctuary has the distinction of being the largest of Goa`s four protected wildlife areas. It occupies an area of about 240 square kilometers. Some of the inmates of the sanctuary are gaur, sambar, leopards, spotted deer, slender toris, jungle cats, malayan giant squirrels, pythons and cobras. The Molem National Park is a part of the sanctuary.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Canacona Taluka, South Goa district. This sanctuary is spread over an area of about 105 square kilometers. It is adorned with dense forest, which has moist deciduous trees, semi-evergreen trees and evergreen trees. This sanctuary provides suitable habitat to species like flying squirrel, slender loris, Indian pangolin, mouse deer, four-horned antelope and Malabar pit viper. A tree top watchtower positioned about 25 meters above a watering hole is the noteworthy aspect of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Sanguem Taluka of eastern Goa. It occupies an approximate 211 square kilometers area of Western Ghats. This sanctuary is also adorned with numerous waterfalls and perennial streams. Some of the occupants of Netravali are panthers, cobras, giant squirrels, birds like Nilgiri wood pigeon and grey headed bulbul and butterflies.
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats in the Ponda region. This park occupies an area of about 8 square kilometers. This sanctuary serves as a home to a wide variety of animal life like sambar deer, Indian bison, Malabar giant squirrel, Indian peafowl and many species of snakes. Enhancing the tourism aspect of the sanctuary are a zoological park, an expansive deer park, botanical and rose garden and a small archeological exhibition comprising of many figurines dating back to the 6th century.
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located in North Goa District, Sattari taluka. This area of high endemism as labeled by the Conservation International provides protection to species like Indian gaur, barking deer, sambhar deer, ruddy mongoose, Asian palm civet and black-faced langur. Being an "International Bird Area", Mhadei shelters birds like Malabar parakeet, Nilgiri wood-pigeon, rufous babbler and grey-headed bulbul.
