Biodiversity & Environment
Demand for Declaration of Goa Sanctuaries as Tiger Reserve
- 10 Jan 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
Activists and politicians from Goa have demanded that certain areas in wildlife sanctuaries of the state be notified as a tiger reserve.
- In 2017, the State government had proposed about 500 sq km area of Mahadayi, Netravali and Cotigao sanctuaries with some part of Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary to be marked as a tiger reserve.
- Recent deaths of four tigers in Mahadayi wildlife sanctuary has brought the demand again in the scenario.
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
- Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Goa bounded by Cotigao wildlife sanctuary on the eastern side and Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary on the northern side.
- It is predominantly moist deciduous forests with patches of semi-evergreen forest in the valleys.
- It has two important waterfalls namely, Savari and Mainapi.
- This region supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna and notable among them are Leopard, Giant Squirrel, Mouse Deer, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Ceylon Frogmouth.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
- Cotigao Sanctuary is situated in Canacona Taluka, of Goa.
- It was established in 1968-69 to protect a remote and vulnerable area of forest lining the Goa- Karnataka border.
- The vegetation is mostly moist-deciduous type, interspersed with semi-evergreen and evergreen patches.
Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary
- Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Mollem town of Goa.
- It is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries of Goa and contains within it the Mollem National Park.
- It was formed to protect the vast biodiversity of the Western Ghat.
- Originally known as the Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and thence renamed the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The sanctuary is heavily forested and contains tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests.
