Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Recently, the survey to estimate the population of the Indian giant squirrel has commenced in the ecologically sensitive Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Pune district. 

About Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is located in the northern part of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra (spread over the three districts Pune, Thane and Raigad).
• It is named after Lord ‘Bhimashankar’ (one of the twelve Jyotirlingas).
• It was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985.
• Rivers: Two major tributaries of river Krishna namely Bhima and Ghod originate from this area.
• Vegetation: Major forest types are western subtropical broad leaved hill forest to moist deciduous types with a few included small patches of evergreen forests.
• Flora
  • Sacred Groves (Deorais): The sanctuary has 14 unique sacred groves protected by socio-religious rules.
  • It also consists of Bilschmiedia dalzellii, Mangifera indica, Olea dioica, Syzygium cumini, Carallia brachiata, Myristica malabarica, Diospyros malabarica, D. montana, D. sylvatica and Symplocos racemosa.
• Fauna

• • The main wild speies are Giant Indian squirrel (Ratufa indica elphinstoni), Panther (Panthera paradus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Mouse Deer Tragulus memina, Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), Wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Source: Mid Day

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