Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Supe – The Wildlife Sanctuary

Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Supe – The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is one of the smallest wildlife sanctuaries, with an area of about 5.14 sq. kms of reserved forests from Supe and Kutwalwadi villages of Baramati Tehsil in Pune District. The sanctuary is a popular hotspot for birdwatching. Tourists are allowed to drive their vehicles inside the sanctuary as well as to walk. The forest department has two tents within the sanctuary area. Accommodation options available in the vicinity are in Supe, outside the sanctuary. The best time to visit is from late August to February when the weather is not very harsh. Summers are hot and humid and there is heavy rainfall during monsoon.

Flora:

The sanctuary is mostly made of dry deciduous scrub forest of Acacia catechu (Khair), Acacia sp. (Hivar), Dalbergia latifolia (Sisoo), Ziziphus mauritiana (Ber), Carissa opaca (Karwand), Alysicarpus bupleurifolius, Cyathocline purpurea, Eriocauion diane, Merremia emarginata, Cucumis melo, Cyperus kyllingia, Striga densiflora, Mareilea minuta trees and interspersed grasslands.

Fauna:

The sanctuary is home to large variety of birds such as Indian roller, black-winged kite, grey hornbill, grey partridge, Eurasian collared dove, white-throated kingfisher, ashy-crowned sparrow lark, shrike, laughing dove, blue-cheeked bee-eater, Indian silverbill, Gray Francolin, Red-wattled Lapwing, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Short-Toed Snake Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Indian Bush-Lark, Bay-backed Shrike, Southern Gray Shrike and migratory species like European Roller and Montagu's harrier could be seen during winter. The main animal species found in this sanctuary are Indian Gazelle (Chinkara), Striped Hyena, Indian gray wolf, Indian Jackal, Indian fox, and Indian Hare (black-naped hare).

Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Supe, Maharashtra

Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Supe, Maharashtra

Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located near Supe Village in Baramati Taluk in Pune District in the Indian State of Maharashtra. The sanctuary is situated at the tri-junction of three Tehsils of Pune District, namely, Baramati, Daund and Purandar. The sanctuary was officially declared as a sanctuary on August 19, 1997. The sanctuary is one of the smallest wildlife sanctuaries, with an area of about 5.14 sq. kms.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/02/mayureshwar-wildlife-sanctuary-supe-wildlife-sanctuary.html

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 2.5 Kms from Supe Bus Stand, 16 Kms from Kedgaon, 17 Kms from Kedgaon Railway Station, 32 Kms from Daund, 32 Kms from Daund Junction Railway Station, 39 Kms from Baramati and 71 Kms from Pune Airport. The sanctuary is situated on the Supe to Kedgaon route.

Location

Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary – The Wildlife Sanctuary

Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary – The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is situated in the Balaghat mountain range of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri).  The sanctuary covers an area of about 22.83 sq. kms. This sanctuary serves as a vital habitat for various plant and animal species, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and the ecological balance of the region. The Barsi Light Railway line built in 1907 connecting Kurduwadi to Latur passes through the sanctuary. The best time to visit Yedshi Ramling Wildlife Sanctuary is from October to June. There is a forest rest house at Yedshi. There is a railway rest house on Durgadevi hilltop near Ramling temple.

Flora:

The forest in the reserve is comprised of South tropical (regional) arid deciduous forests and thorny forests. Most of the forest area is hilly wooded land with patches of scrub land. The common trees found are Apta, Sag, Sandalwood, Guggul / Salai, Neem, Bhera, Garadi, Savar, Ain, Bor, Dhaman, Sitaphal, Saada, Moh, Medshing, Behda, Acacia catechu (Khair), Acacia leucophloea (Hiwar), Acacia nilotica (Babul), Aegle marmelos (Bel), Albizzia lebbek, Albizzia procera, Anogeissus latifolia (Dhawda), Butea monosperma (Palas), Boswellia serrata (Salaia), Ficus and Terminalia species. The common shrubs found in this reserve are Vites negundo, zizyphus species, Cassia auriculata (tarwad), Carissa carandas, Helicteres isora (Murudsheng) and Ghaneri shrubs. Apart from these, the forest department has planted a large number of trees like Bor, Shisam, Subabhul, Glyricidia here.

Fauna:

The main fauna found in this reserve are leopard, hyaena, wild cat, sloth bear, black buck, jackal, wolf, fox, monitor lizards, cobra, krait, python, rat snake, monkey, porcupine, barking deer, chinkara, and hares. The sanctuary recorded more than 100 species of birds. Some of the birds found here are peacock, black duck, and ashy crowned sparrow lark.

Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Osmanabad (Dharashiv) District in the Indian State of Maharashtra. It spans over the Dharashiv and Kalamb Tehsil of the district. The sanctuary was officially notified on May 16^th, 1997. The Yedshi Ramling Ghat sanctuary is a part of Aurangabad Wildlife Division. The Range Forest Officer (Wildlife) located at Yedshi is in charge of the sanctuary.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/02/yedshi-ramling-ghat-wildlife-sanctuary.html

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 2.5 Kms from Yedshi, 2.5 Kms from Yedshi Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Yedshi Railway Station, 14 Kms from Dharashiv Railway Station, 21 Kms from Dharashiv, 30 Kms from Barshi, 70 Kms from Latur, 219 Kms from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Airport and 255 Kms from Pune Airport. The sanctuary is situated on the Barshi to Latur route. Regular buses are available from Barshi, Dharashiv and Latur.

Location

Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in the Yawal Tehsil of the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India. The sanctuary lies along the banks of the Anner and Manjar rivers and at the border of Madhya Pradesh. The sanctuary was established in 1969.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is spread over an area of approximately 178 sq. kms (68 sq. mi) covered by dense forest. It lies along the banks of the rivers Anner and Manjal. The sanctuary spans over the western Satpura hill ranges and serves as a habitat for a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The most popular time to visit the sanctuary is during its winter; with a temperature range of 20-28°C it is far milder than its typical scorching summers that occasionally pass 35°C. There is an old Forest Rest House at Langda Amba which was built during the British era.

Flora:

The vegetation of the sanctuary mainly comprises southern tropical dry deciduous forests. The common flora found in the sanctuary are teak, salai, anjan, awala, tendu, jamun, charoli, khair, tiwas, haldu, shisam, ain, palas, and orchards. An extensive growth of grasses and bamboo are also found here. 

Fauna:

The fauna found in this sanctuary are tigers, leopards, sambar deer, chinkara, nilgai, sloth bears, jackals, foxes, wolves, wild boars, barking deer, jungle cats, palm civet, wild dogs, and flying squirrels. The avifauna found here is dominated mostly by hill birds and grass land birds. However, a few wet land birds can also be spotted here. Sukki Lake, situated inside the forest is the abode for a number of migratory birds.

Connectivity

Pal village is the main entry point to this sanctuary from Maharashtra. Pal is located at about 30 Kms from Savda, 47 Kms from Bhuswal Junction Railway Station, 48 Kms from Bhusawal, 74 Kms from Jalgaon Airport and 88 Kms from Khargone. Pal village is situated on the Bhusawal to Khargone route.

Location

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in the Murud and Roha Taluks of Raigad District in the Indian State of Maharashtra. The sanctuary is a paradise for photographers and nature lovers. Bird watching and trekking are the popular activities here.

History

The sanctuary was established on 25^th February 1986. The sanctuary was handed over to Wildlife Division of Thane for wild life management and protection in 1994. The sanctuary was once part of the hunting reserves of the princely state of Murud-Janjira (Siddi Nawabs).

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary consists of 6979 hectares of forest, grasslands, and wetlands. The sanctuary hosts four trails including Phansadgaan, Chikhalgaan, Ghunyacha Maal and one along the waterholes. These trails are the best places for viewing wildlife. The sanctuary has pockets of open grassland called malls throughout the forest. The sanctuary hosts 23 water holes called gan in local language. The sacred grove (Devrai) is located near Supegaon.

Flora:

The sanctuary comprises of semi-evergreen, evergreen, mixed deciduous, dry deciduous and coastal woodland ecosystem of the Western Ghats. The sanctuary has 710 species of Plants which include 179 species of trees, 66 shrubs, 141 herbs etc. The forest on the top of the hill in the sanctuary are evergreen which include mostly Anjan (Memecylon umbellatum), Phansada (Garcinia talbootii) while those on the slopes are dry deciduous which include ain, kinjal, teak, hirda, jamba, mango, and various ficus. 

Fauna:

The sanctuary is home to 279 species of fauna including mammals, reptiles, avifauna, and butterflies. The animals found in the sanctuary are Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), Indian muntjac (barking deer), Gaur (Bos Gaurus), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), Indian leopard (Panthera pardus), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Sambar (Cervus unicolour), Lesser false vampire bat (Megaderma spasma) and Mouse deer (Tragulus meminna). The Giant Indian Squirrel is the one of the major attractions of the sanctuary. The reptiles found in the sanctuary are Python (Python molurus), Bombay earth snake (Uropeltis macrolepis), Giri's bronzeback tree snake (Dendrelaphis girii) and Southern Birdwing (Troides minos).

The sanctuary is home to more than 150 species of birds.  The birds found in the sanctuary are Sri Lanka frogmouth, Spot-bellied eagle-owl, Green Billed Malkoha, Plum-Headed Parakeet, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Malabar Piped Hornbill. Large number of migratory birds visit the sanctuary between the period of November and January. The White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) which is noted as critically endangered is also found in the sanctuary.

Connectivity

The wildlife sanctuary is located at about 7 Kms from Mazgaon, 14 Kms from Murud, 14 Kms from Murud Bus Stand, 30 Kms from Roha, 31 Kms from Roha Railway Station, and 132 Kms from Mumbai Airport. The wildlife sanctuary is situated on the Murud to Roha route via Mazgaon.

Location

Gugamal National Park, Amravati – The National Park

Gugamal National Park, Amravati – The National Park

The national park spreads over an area of about 361.28 sq. kms and elevations ranging from 350 to 1,178 m. It is situated in the Melghat hills in the southern part of Satpura range. The national park forms the core of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. The park is named after the Gugamal Range, a hill range that runs through its core. This national park is popular for its huge number tiger population. It is considered to be the Indian national park with highest number of tigers present. The park is traversed by Tapti River, Melghat River (Khandu River), Dolar River, Sipna River, Gadga River, Khapra River and Wan River.

The Tapti River is the major river that flows along the northern border of the park. The park receives around 1,850 mm rainfall on an average. The national park is inhabited by the Korku Tribe and Gond Tribe. The best time to visit the park is between October and June, especially during early morning hours. Winter season is ideal for bird watching. Tourists can enjoy a stay in the park and do night safari. Kolka Rest House is the forest guest house of the area, where standard accommodations are available based on permission taken from the Amravati Forest Office.

Flora:

The habitat is a typical representative of the Central Indian Highland, forming a part of the Deccan Peninsula- Central Indian Highland biogeographically. The forest is southern tropical dry deciduous in nature, dominated by teak (Tectona grandis) and bamboo. The forests comprised of more than 750 species of plants including 316 herb species, 66 shrub species, 56 climbers, 23 sedge species and 90 tree species. The trees found in the forest are teak (Tectona grandis), ain (Terminalia alata), Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), lendia (Lagerstroemia parviflora), dhawada (Anogeissus latifolia), and kusum (Schleichera oleosa) trees. Some orchids and strobilanthes are present in the upper hills. The area is rich in medicinal plants.

Fauna:

The mammals found in the park are Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Ussuri dhole, Indian jackal, striped hyena, four-horned antelope, sambar, gaur, barking deer, honey badger, flying squirrel, cheetal, nilgai, wild boar, langur, rhesus monkey, and macaques. The reptiles found in the park are Indian cobra, skink snake, Indian python, dwarf & bark gecko, common Indian monitor, Dhamen and crocodiles. The crocodiles were reintroduced in the region in a systematic manner in Siddu Kund (river Gadga) near Dhakna and Hathi Kund (river Dolar) in the 1990 & 1991.

The national park is also home to 25 types of fishes and many varieties of butterflies. The birds found in the park are jungle & common babbler, green bee-eater, crested bunting, yellow-billed babbler, white-checked barbet, laughing dove, common kingfisher, white-eyed buzzard, common stonechat, black-shouldered kite, honey buzzard, white-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl, black kite, rose-ringed parakeet, black-throated munia, rock pigeon, forest spotted owlet, serpent eagles, paradise flycatcher, Indian roller, Malabar pied hornbill, greater racket-tailed drongo and white-bellied drongo. Several migratory birds can also be observed during winter months.