You think of Goa and the first image that appears in your mind is a beach. But Goa is a versatile place that includes exotic beaches, stunning churches, impressive temples, fascinating wildlife and the list goes on. Wildlife in Goa is rich and comprises surprisingly a huge variety.
The wildlife in Goa is primarily based on the lines of Western Ghats. There are varied species of birds, animals and aquatic animals when you visit Sahyadri or the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats covers an area of about 600 kilometers giving you a huge area for adventure.
According to the statistics on wildlife of Goa, the state is blessed with more than 1512 kinds of plants, 60 genres of reptiles, over 275 variety of birds and 48 species of animals. Explore the diverse wild creatures in Goa by planning for a wildlife tour to this state.
There are many wildlife tour packages available that will give you access to the finest jungles of Goa. There are ample of wildlife sanctuaries and conservation parks situated all over Goa. Some of them are listed below.
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: South Goa district, 53 km from Panaji
- Best time to visit: October to March
- Prime Attraction: Gaur, Panther, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Devil’s Canyon viewpoint, Dudhsagar falls and Tambdi Surla Temple.
Most people confine themselves to the sea and beaches during their leisure vacations in Goa. But there is a better option to add excitement into your Goa Trip. Explore the wildlife sanctuaries of Goa to make your Goa vacation an unforgettable one.
Situated at the foothills of Sahyadri or Western Ghats, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife reserve of Goa. Previously known as Mollem game sanctuary, presently this wildlife park covers an area of 240 sq. km. Although the forest of Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is quite thick, yet it has a core area which constitutes an area of 107 sq. km. You can get a real jungle feeling when you stay inside the core area of the forest.
Flora and Fauna
The park houses a myriad species of flora and fauna. Every year nature lovers, environmentalists and common people throng here and get closer to the wonders of nature.
Your collection of snap shots will become unique as you capture the plants of Moist Deciduous Forest, West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests and West Coast Semi – Evergreen Forests. You will come across rare plant species such as Terminalia, Xylia, Lagerstroemia and Dalbergia. The forest is extremely dense as the forest canopy is almost closed.
Wild animals like Bengal tiger, leopard, barking deer, and wild boar are commonly seen in this forest. You will also get to see some of the threatened species like Malabar giant squirrel, mouse deer, and pangolin.
The treasure of birds in this sanctuary is huge. You will come across several species of birds that you mostly see in televisions. In this sanctuary you can see the Golden oriole, Indian black woodpecker, Greater Indian hornbill, Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill. Bird species like grey-headed myna, three-toed kingfisher or dwarf kingfisher, ruby-throated yellow bulbul are sure to surprise you.
This sanctuary boasts to have plenty of butterfly species. These butterflies are rare and their unusual colors will leave you amazed. Butterflies like Blue Mormon, Plum Judy, Crimson Rose are a must watch for you. The Tailed Jay butterfly will leave every tourist dumbstruck with its green tint.
Reptiles are a common interest in this wildlife reserve. The prime attraction is the King Cobra which is rarely seen in other sanctuaries in India. You will come across varied vipers in this park.
Other Places of Interest
The massive area of this wildlife sanctuary has more surprises to give you apart from plants and animals. There are other wonders inside this forest as well.
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: North Goa, 52 km from Panaji.
- Best time to visit: November to March
- Main attractions: Leopard, Panthers, Gaurs, deer safari park, zoo, botanical garden etc.
- Timings: Closed only on Thursdays
Make your Goa trip a memorable event for years to come by taking a trip to Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary proudly holds a wide variety of flora and fauna and is actually a wildlife resort. This sanctuary covers an area of approximately 8 sq kms. Naturally, seeing every corner of this forest won’t consume much of your vacation time.
Prime Attractions
The small area of Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in nature’s wonders as it houses various zoos and botanical gardens which are in a good state of maintenance.
You can take a look into a tiny zoological park inside Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. This zoo has moated enclosures and is stuffed with natural surroundings. You can see wild animals like lion, panther, sloth bear, and wild boars in this zoo. There is also a section of reptiles inside this zoo.
The deer safari park inside the sanctuary is a shelter for some of the fantastic spotted deers and sambars.
There are botanical gardens set within the precincts of this sanctuary, which contains rare plants, exotic plants, colorful flowering plants in it. The rose garden in this sanctuary is a well known one.
The Nature Education Park is a humble effort by the government which is liked by most tourists. This educational park is like natural laboratory where you can see and interpret the various wonders of nature. This education park has a library which is open to visitors. There are several interesting videos that you see on request.
Where to Stay?
Since Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is a small one, tourists can stay within the premises and enjoy their trip. There are ecotourism cottages for tourist’s lodging. This set of cottages has two dormitories with 48 beds in it. There is a restaurant present near the ecotourism cottages named ‘Den’ supplying ample food to tourists.
Mandovi Zuari Wildlife Sanctuary
- Located: Confluence of Mandovi
- Best Time to Visit: October
- Prime Attraction: Different species of mangroves
You can add adventure to your leisurely vacation in Goa by planning for a wildlife tour. Wildlife in Goa sounds pretty surprising since Goa is popular for its fantastic beaches and embellished churches. But Goa has diverse places for tourist interest and wildlife of Goa is a center of attraction for many tourists. Mandovi-Zuari Wildlife sanctuary is one among the many wildlife reserves that will fascinate you to the fullest.
Rivers meander through every forest in Goa and two most famous rivers are Mandovi and Zuari. Mandovi is the larger one and is more dangerous among the two and has originated from the Western Ghats. The Mandovi-Zuari Wildlife sanctuary lies at the union of these two rivers.
Flora and Fauna
The flora of Mandovi-Zuari Wildlife sanctuary is a notable feature as you will come across almost 20 species of mangrove trees. The view of these enormous trees is a unique experience; it is a pleasure to watch how the exposed roots of these plants are dipped inside water. These giant trees are not only unusual by its looks but they also occupy a significant position in our food chain. If you are accompanied by an experienced guide he can describe you this fascinating fact about how mangroves form a strong support for our ecosystem. This sanctuary proudly houses some of the rarest mangroves and one among them is Kandelia Candel.
The fauna in this wildlife reserve is undoubtedly rich and it will sure make your trip fulfilling. The rivers Mandovi and Zuari are homes for a number of aquatic animals. You will catch glimpses of varied fishes and reptiles. Cruising along the backwaters of Zuari River will show you some of the rare species of birds like collared kingfisher, orange-breasted green pigeon and hump-backed dolphins.
You can enjoy your stay in this sanctuary by availing organized trip o motorboats on Zuari River that takes you far off to mangrove-filled Cumbharjua Canal.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: Canacona taluka in South Goa district
- Best time to visit: October to March
- Main Attractions: Monkeys, kingfishers, deer, Kuskem waterfall, luxuriant vegetation and other wildlife.
Have you ever imagined how it will feel if wild animals gaze at you after you have taken the first sip of your morning tea? This can be a reality if you visit Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa. Here you will realize that Goa can offer you far beyond the beaches and churches.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the borders of Goa and Karnataka and it is the second largest wildlife reserve of Goa. This amazingly beautiful wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of approximately 86 sq. km. The perennial source of water to this dense forest is Talpona River, which meanders through the heart of the forest.
Main Attractions:
The forest department of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary has taken several attempts to make this wildlife reserve entertaining and interesting for tourists. The most notable of all this effort is a Nature Interpretation Center. This is an education park where tourists are imparted knowledge about wildlife.
The treetop house set inside the sanctuary is worth mentioning. This is a 25 m high treetop watchtower where nature lovers often climb to take the aerial view of the forest.
Flora
The forest of this sanctuary is a dense one with lush green forest canopy which barely allows sunlight to reach the ground. The forest is mostly covered by Moist Deciduous forest and there are few patches of Evergreen forests.
Fauna
This sanctuary has a very scanty resource of wild animals. The wild animal population mainly consists of panthers, porcupines, hyenas, bison, gazelles and sloth bears. Few birds are also found in this reserve such as white-eyed eagles, rufus woodpecker and Malabar crested eagle.
Those who are planning to go for wildlife excursion for the first time and that too with family will find this sanctuary the ideal option. It has sparse wild animals which makes it less dangerous for a family. You can take pleasure in roaming the forest while staying at ecotourism complex within the premises.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
- Location: Chorao Island, on River Mandovi
- Best time to visit: October to March
- Main Attractions: Migratory birds
Mostly known as a haven for birdwatchers, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve that attracts all sorts of visitors. The only thing you need to take utmost pleasure of in this park is a binocular.
This sanctuary is named after the renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali and it encompasses an area of 1.8 sq kms. Although Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the smallest sanctuary of Goa, yet it can give you maximum adventure with its rich wealth of animals and birds.
Birds
This paradise of birds is a shelter for myriad birds such as peninsular bay owl, Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar trogon, crested serpent eagle, rose billed roller, fairy blue bird, crimson throated barbet and great Indian hornbill.
There is an old adage, that says don’t go by name. Similarly, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary not only consists of birds, but it is a house for a wide range of wild animals and reptiles.
You can see some of the exquisite variety of monkeys, deer and squirrels. A wide genre of dangerous vipers is housed in this wildlife sanctuary. Russell’s viper and Saw scaled viper are a rare variety of vipers that you will come across. The Indian python is one more ponderous and wondrous creature that you will definitely come across in this sanctuary.
Other Places of Interest
A popular picnic spot named Idamalayar is located very close to this sanctuary. The famous dam Bhoothathankettu, is also located near to this sanctuary. This dam is a famous place and it is made on the river Periyar. The natural spectacles surrounding this dam are truly breath-taking.
Important Tips
The best way to explore this wildlife reserve is traveling by foot since, vehicles are not allowed inside this park. To make your trip to this bird sanctuary interesting and entertaining it is recommended to hire a guide. This will help you to reach those places where rare species of birds and animals exist. Moreover, the guide will also assist you to identify the creatures and say interesting facts about them.
