Koyna Wildlife Santuary: 2011

The Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary in is an exotic sanctuary dotted with an abundance of flora and

fauna. Nestled in the beautiful Western Ghats, the sanctuary

sprawls over an area of about

426.52 sq km.

The sanctuary is marked by dense forests with three major

sections, Vasota, Maharkhor and Indavli Met. and the rivers Koyna, Kandati, and Solashi.

The Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary in Satara, Maharashtra forms the

catchments area for the Koyna River, and the Shivasagar

reservoir formed by the Koyna Dam.

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is surrounded by natural protective

boundaries – Shivasagar Lake on one side, and the slopes of the Western Ghats on both the

sides. This protective cover is the

reason for the sanctuary having a diverse variety of vegetation

and animals.

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.

Tourists 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 hosts some of the threatened and rare tree

species such as Garambi and Ran-Jaiphal.

Some other species, which are not found anywhere and are

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 santuary are Tigers, panthers, Gaurs,

Sloth Bears, Sambars, Barking deers, Mouse Deers, Dholes,

Giant Squirrels, Otters, Common Langoors, Pythons, and

Cobras.

Among the birds are Heart Spotted, Rufous and Brown Cappe Woodpeckers, Goshawk, Long