bhagwan mahavir wildlife sanctuary
Along the north from Panaji on the road to Belgaum, is a sanctuary that covers 240-sq-kms. Thick forest clad the slopes of the Western Ghats that is rich in wildlife and a paradise for bird watchers. Police...
Location: Located at the foothills of the Western Ghats, near the Molem village, Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary Goa lies on the eastern border of the state. It is 60 km away from the state capital, Panaji. Area: Few of the tourists know that one third of Goa is covered with rich forest and that it is one of the greatest reservoirs of bio diversity in the world. Goa's largest wild life sanctuary is Bhagwan Wildlife Sanctuary which covers an area of 240 sq. km. This sanctuary is situated amidst nature's abundance; deciduous trees and evergreen forests cover this preserve. Wildlife: Molem National Park is in the center of the sanctuary. While on an excursion through the sanctuary made on jeeps provided by the forest department, you will come across herds of deer and gaurs (Indian bison), Malayan giant squirrels, clusters of monkeys, slithering cobras and pythons. You may be lucky enough to spot a few black panthers on look out for preys. Tigers and elephants are also common sights. It is always best to visit the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary in the early morning hours or late evening hours. If you are a wildlife enthusiast a few days in the Tourists Complex run by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation is a must. Staying here you could come across some of the rare species of birds and stealthy panthers on the prowl. But the most dangerous of the animals are the doles, the wild dogs, than any other carnivore. According to the villagers of Molem , the doles operate in huge packs, they break themselves in teams and station themselves in strategic positions. Thereafter they run short distances and with quick team effort and relays they outrun their prey, lunge on them and kill them. So a much stronger and larger gaur eventually fall to their vile plans and bleeds to death. They are even said to eat their prey faster before any other animals can get the smell or inkling of a prey being feasted upon. Just 12km away from the sanctuary is the 13th century Mahadev Temple at Tambdi, Surla and the Dudhsagar waterfalls
