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Location:
Satara District, Maharahstra
Area: 423.55-sq-km
Other Attractions: Koyana Dam And Shivsagar
Reservoir
Best Time To Visit: October
Sanctuary is
located in Satara District in Western Maharashtra covering an area of
423.55-sq-km. Koyana wildlife sanctuary includes Eastern and Western
catchments of Koyana dam. This dam is a major hydroelectric project
centre in the Western Maharashtra. The sanctuary is well protected by
the large extent of Shivasagar reservoir and steep Slopes of Western
Ghats on both the sides. A vegetal cover corridor of Chandoli connects
this protected area. It is bounded by Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary in
south. Flora
The land
vegetation is southern tropical evergreen forests and southern moist
mixed deciduous forest. The major tree species are Anjani, Jambul, Hirda,
Awala, Pisa, Ain, Kinjal, Amba, Kumbha, Bhoma, Chandala, Katak, Nana,
Umbar, Jambha, Gela, Bibba etc. Karvi is found almost all over the area.
Tourist can find Climbers like Shikekai, and Garambi; Medicinal plants
such as Karvand, Vagati, Ranmiri, Tamalpati, Toran, Dhayati, Kadipatta,
Narkya, Murudsheng, etc; bulbs of seasonal plants and quite a large
number of ephemera's.
The santuary also
hosts threatened and rare tree species such as Garambi and Ran-Jaiphal.
Some other species, which are not found anywhere and highly threatened,
are Dhup, Eupohoria Longan, and Elecoarpus Tectorium. Tree giants like
Harpullia Arborea & Turpunita Malbarica, which are endemic to
Western Ghats are also found in the protected area.
Fauna
Animals found in
this sanctuary are Tigers, Panthers, Gaurs, Sloth Bears, Sambars,
Barking Deers, Mouse Deers, Dholes, Gaint Squirrels, Otters, Common
Langoors, Pythons, and Cobras. Among the birds are Heart Spotted, Rufous
and Brown Capped Woodpeckers, Goshawk, Long Tailed Nightjar and Fairy
Bluebird. These are found very rarely in other parts of Western Ghats.
Sanctuary also
shelters a unique species Bufo Koyanansis, which is habitat in this
protected area. Best time to visit this santuary is during October.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Nearest
Airport is Kolhapur at 65-km from the sanctuary.
Rail: Nearest
railway station is Kolhapur at 60-km from the sanctuary.
Road: Nearest Bus
station is Radhanagari at 55-km on Kolhapur-Deogarh state highway.
WHERE TO STAY
Tourist can halt
at Irrigation Department Rest house with permission from Executive
Engineer, Koyana, Pophali, and Ratnagiri.
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