Goa, the land of surprises, is visited for the perfect blend of sun, sea, sand, surf and sea food. But there are some other factors also, which add some more harm to the divine beauty of this small state. Goa is, undoubtedly, gifted with incredible natural beauty. And in order to protect the same from the forces of modernization, the state has set aside four wild-life sanctuaries (including one bird sanctuary) nestled in the wooded areas. The entire area is covered by the lofty Western Ghats mountains, which are endowed with a lush green canopy and serve as a haven for exotic species of flora and fauna.

Geographically, almost one-third of Goa is covered with forests. Goa wildlife sanctuaries together cover an area of 755 square km, or around 60 percent of forest area and 20 percent of the geographical area of the state. The four wildlife sanctuaries in Goa are:

* Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
* Bondla Forest
* Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary
* Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

As per the studies, Goa wildlife is blessed with over 1512 documented species of plants, over 275 species of birds, about 48 species of animals and over 60 species of reptiles. While enjoying the wildlife tours in Goa or the Jungle Safaris in Goa, you can spot a number of mammals like deer, ox, wild boar, bear, hyena, panther, wild cat, sloth, monkey, Indian elephant, squirrel, bat and dolphin.

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is famous all over the world. It is simply a paradise for bird lovers and ornithologists. You can spot a number of local/migratory birds here, including cormorant, coot, openbill stork, kingfisher, drongo, bulbul and weaver bird, besides dove, parrot, vulture, kite, quail and hoopoe. Out of the 60 species of reptiles in Goa, there are 23 species of snakes.

Goa wildlife sanctuaries offer various tours for tourists to wander the forest areas for a nominal charge. In short, Goa is not about the beaches and the churches only. There is a lot more to explore. The state flourishes in a rich collection of flora and fauna and has an assortment of rare and varied species of animals and plants thriving in the Western Ghats.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites