Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, Flora, Fauna

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Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Public trespassing into the ecologically sensitive Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk continues unchecked, raising serious concerns among conservationists.

About Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary

It spans over the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka.
It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in December 2011.
The sanctuary has been named after the Bhimgad Fort, constructed and commanded by Shivaji in the 17th century as a defence from Portuguese troops.
It shares its boundary with the north of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, north-west of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, north of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and east of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is characterized by its diverse topography, encompassing hills, valleys, and plateaus.
BWS forms the headwaters of a number of rivers like Tillari, Malaprabha, and Mhadei and several perennial streams.
This sanctuary is known for the Barapede caves, the only known breeding area of the Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat, a threatened species on the verge of extinction.
Vegetation: The dominant vegetation of the forest comprises tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests.
Flora:
- Forests are dominated by towering trees like Malabar teak, rosewood, and various species of dipterocarps
- It also hosts a number of medicinal plants.
Fauna:
- It provides habitat for several endangered species, such as the Indian sloth bear,Indian pangolin, and the elusive black panther.
- Other notable residents include the Malabar giant squirrel, gaur, sambar deer, and a plethora of bird species, including the Malabar trogon and the great Indian hornbill.
- One of the unique features of Bhimgad is the presence of large, isolated rock formations that serve as ideal breeding grounds for the King Cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake.