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Sanctuary is located
in Satara District in Western Maharashtra . 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. |
