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Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra, List of 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries

The list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra has been discussed here which are important for the GK section of MPSC. Get details of the 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra.
authorImagePriyanka Gupta29 Jul, 2024
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Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra: Maharashtra is endowed with an array of topographies that offer varied environments conducive to the flourishing of flora and wildlife. Beautiful animals may be found in these natural wonders, which also house some amazing Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra that protect the species from harm and human exploitation. One place where people can go to get up close and personal with nature is a wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra.

Everywhere you go in these incredible woodlands, there's something special waiting to be seen, from undisturbed deep teak forests home to abundant biodiversity, to various water bodies that boast their own species, and wide meadows frequented by deer herds. Here in this article, the candidates can go through the details of Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra.

Languages Of Maharashtra

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra: Maharashtra has long been a haven for those who enjoy the outdoors. It includes everything you need to enjoy outdoor pursuits like hiking and bird viewing. There are some stunning Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra that you can visit if you love animals. Their diverse range of flora and animals, all of which are well-maintained, is their greatest feature. Some of the locations are so excellent that you can witness uncommon birds and creatures that are not visible anywhere else. It is only to those who have an affinity for wildlife that this will make sense.

Folk Dances of Maharashtra

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra

The List of Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra has been mentioned in the table given below. The largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra is Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in India. It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park. Get more such details from the table given below.

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra

Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary Kolhapur
Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary ​Sangli
Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Thane and Palghar
Thane Creek Flamingo Wildlife Sanctuary Thane
Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary Yavatmal
Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary Palghar
Wan Wildlife Sanctuary Amravati
Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary Jalgaon
Yessi Ramling ghat Wildlife Sanctuary Dharashiv

10 Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra

Get details of the 10 Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra which have been mentioned below.. Visitors find these trips to be quite enjoyable as they offer a variety of natural resources. To experience observing animals in their natural habitat, Maharashtra wildlife trips typically involve a quick visit to the national forests. While these reserve forests are significantly more man-made than actual forests, they yet give visitors the impression that they are in a forest.

Soils in Maharashtra

Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary

Established in 1976, the Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Gaya district of Maharashtra. The area was formerly a privately owned hunting reserve before being turned into a wildlife sanctuary. Sections of the lower Gangetic plains ecoregion, as well as the moist and dry deciduous forests of Chota Nagpur, are included in the sanctuary. Among the significant animal species are tigers, leopards, sambars, sloth bears, wolves, spotter deer, nilgai, and chinkaras.

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

It bears the name of the well-known Bhimashankar temple and is one of the most popular Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in the Maharashtra district of Pune. Ridges, hill slopes, plateaus, uplands, gorges, cliffs, valleys, rocky basins, and flat top valleys are the sanctuary's primary topographical features.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Western Ghats. Spurs of the Sahyadri range penetrate the eastern plains at the top of the main range. It reaches the Thane, Raigad, and Pune districts.
  • Fauna: One of the most well-known protected areas is home to the Indian Giant Squirrel. The Indian Giant Squirrel was the reason behind its establishment. It is the state animal of Maharashtra and goes by the name Shekru as well. Many animals, including a variety of insects, amphibians, and mammals including wild boar, langurs, and barking deer

Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary

Melghat translates to "The meeting of ghats" in Marathi. This Maharashtra wildlife reserve is situated where the ghats converge. The Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary was thus called. It was founded in 1985. It is well known that the Wildlife Sanctuary is a tiger reserve. The Tapti River and the Satpura Mountains encircle it.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Amravati District.
  • Flora: Bor, Mango, Khair, Jamun, Apta, Bel, Kulu, Bija, Haldu, Saja, Dhawda, Ain, Moha, Tendu, Achar, Amla, Behada, Bhilwa, Bor, and Tiwas.
  • Fauna: Several endangered species, like the Forest Owlet, are protected at the Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Sloth Bears, Nilgai, Sambar, Indian Leopard, Bengal Tiger, Pangolin, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Flying Squirrel, and Python are among the animals that can be spotted.

Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary

The Pamalgautam and Parlkota rivers encircle this wildlife reserve in Maharashtra. An essential water source for the Gond and Madia tribes.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Chandrapur district.
  • Flora: The sanctuary is surrounded by a variety of plants, including mango and jamun trees, despite its recent establishment. Kuda and bamboo bushes are also present.
  • Fauna: Flying squirrels, wild boars, peacocks, blue bulls, and so on.

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Satara District of Maharashtra, the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is a breathtaking location situated within a large forest reserve, making it a must-visit sanctuary. The Koyna dam inspired the name of this wildlife refuge. Indavali Met, Vasota, and Mahar are the three components that make up this wildlife sanctuary. In the year 1985, the Indian government upgraded the Koyna protected forest area to a wildlife sanctuary. UNESCO added it to the list of World Heritage sites in 2012. This sanctuary is traversed by numerous bodies of water, including the Kandati, Koyna, and Solashi. Location: The Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is situated in the Western Ghats.

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary

The Maharashtran Wildlife Sanctuary, Bor Maharashtra's live zoological museum is called Bor Wildlife Sanctuary. It takes its name from the Bor dam, which is located within this wildlife refuge. The Bor Wildlife Sanctuary was turned into a tiger reserve in 2014. There are many tigers in this wildlife reserve. It was established in order to preserve the Bor River's catchment area and to maintain the ecosystem of the Bor Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife reserve is surrounded by several places to go sightseeing. It consists of the Ganesh Temple at Kelzar, the Bruhaspati Temple at Chauki, the Hanuman Temple at Khadki, and the Shiva Temple at Khori Khapa. Together with the tigers, the sanctuary is home to a wide range of other animals and species. The neighboring sanctuary of Bor is Pench Tiger reserve.

Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary

The Gautala settlement is honored by the name of this wildlife reserve. The settlement of Gautala is just a short distance from Jalgaon, the main metropolis. In 1986, this wildlife reserve was established. The area's diverse range of plants and animals led to its designation as a protected area. Generally, migratory birds migrate to regions with warmer climates. This WLS is ideal for migratory birds since it is located in a river valley, where the vegetation is moist.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Aurangabad and Jalgaon districts
  • Flora: The Gautala sanctuary is renowned for its extensive collection of medicinal plants, including some woody shrubs, herbs, and other species that grow naturally.

Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary

Radhanagar Wildlife Sanctuary: This is yet another UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site along with begin one of the Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra. The Radhanagari Bison Sanctuary is home to Indian Bison. Because of its location in the Sahyadri Range, a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles call it home. The tributaries of the rivers Tulshi, Dirba, Bhogavati, and Krishna flow through the Sanctuary.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Kolhapur district.
  • Flora: Jambul, Jambha, Kinjal, Kumbha, Katak, Nana, Pisa, Umbar; Ain, Anjani, Amba, Awala, Bhoma, Bibba; Chandala, Gela, Hirda.
  • Fauna: The predominant species in this area are bison or wild oxen. Other creatures include giant squirrels, sambars, barking deer, sloth bears, mouse deer, leopards, wild boars, and wild dogs.

Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary

It is called "Nagzira" in honor of Mahadev's "Nag" temple. Because of its abundant flora and fauna, this sanctuary is frequently referred to as an open-air museum, making it one of Maharashtra's top wildlife refuges.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Bhandara district.
  • Flora: Ain, Bija, Dhavda, Garari, Tendu, Tinsa, and Surya are the park's principal plant species.
  • Fauna: The Sambar, Cheetah, Mouse-Deer, Wild Dog, and other species are well-known in this wildlife reserve.

Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary

Founded in 1979, this refuge is often referred to as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard refuge. Because it is home to the critically endangered Great Indian bustard, it is one of Maharashtra's most well-known wildlife sanctuaries. Many tourists think it's one of the best nature sanctuaries.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Solapur.
  • Flora: Neem, Sissoo, Babul, Bor, Tarwad, Henkal, Dongri, Kusali Pavanya, Sheda, and Marvel are among the prominent plants.
  • The Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck, Indian Fox, Wolf, and Jackal are examples of fauna.

Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

This is India's first wildlife refuge created by humans. In Maharashtra, India, there is a protected area called Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary, which covers an area of roughly 10.87 square kilometers, is well-known for its abundant natural beauty and diverse biodiversity. It has a wide variety of plants, animals, and bird species among its flora and wildlife. Through ecotourism activities and nature trails, the sanctuary offers tourists the chance to experience the environment while also providing a crucial habitat for endangered species.
  • Sangli, Maharashtra is the location.
  • Flora: Agave, Khair, Acacia, Neem, Nilgiri, and Tamarind.
  • Fauna: This artificial refuge is home to several wild boars, blackbucks, sambar, and other animals.

Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread over nearly 12 sq km, this wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra is named Narnala because it encircles the Narnala fort. It is a well-known Maharashtra wildlife sanctuary because of the abundance of mammals there. The area was included in the Melghat Tiger Reserve but was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1997.
  • Location: The Narnala wildlife reserve is forty kilometers away from Maharashtra's Akola district.
  • Flora: Kusum, Ain, Teak, Dhawda, Lendia, Tiwas, Salai, and Teak.
  • Sambhar, leopards, wild boars, barking deer, porcupines, and serpents are examples of fauna.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra's Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a protected area in the Maharashtra district of Chandrapur. It is the biggest and oldest national park in the nation. The Tadoba Area national park was established in 1955. After merging with the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary, it became the 41st tiger reserve in India under Project Tiger.
  • Location: Maharashtra's Chandrapur district
  • Flora: Bija, Dhauda, Hald, Salai, Semal, Tendu, and Teak and Bamboo Thickets.
  • Animals classified as Fauna include Bison, Hyenas, Sloth Bears, Panthers, Tigers, and Wolves.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Maharashtra FAQs

Q1. What are some of the prominent wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra?

Ans. Maharashtra boasts several notable wildlife sanctuaries, including Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Navegaon National Park, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Melghat Tiger Reserve.

Q2. What species of wildlife can be found in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve?

Ans. Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is renowned for its Bengal tigers. Other wildlife includes leopards, sloth bears, Indian gaur (bison), wild dogs, sambar deer, spotted deer, and various bird species.

Q3. Are there any sanctuaries in Maharashtra specifically known for bird watching?

Ans. Yes, Karnala Bird Sanctuary and Navegaon National Park are popular destinations for bird watching. They host a variety of resident and migratory birds, making them ideal for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts.

Q4. What is the best time to visit wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra?

Ans. The best time to visit Maharashtra's wildlife sanctuaries is from October to March when the weather is pleasant, and wildlife sightings are more common. This period is also suitable for bird watching as migratory birds visit the region.
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