MHADEI
SANCTUARY - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Notify Mhadei sanctuary
as a tiger reserve within 3 months: HC to Goa
What's
in the news?
● The
Goa bench of the Bombay High Court directed the Goa government to notify the
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other areas, referred to in National Tiger
Conservation Authority (NTCA) communications and plans prepared by the Goa
Forest department as a tiger reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act within
three months.
Mhadei
Wildlife Sanctuary:
● Mhadei
wildlife sanctuary is located in the Northern
Part of Goa, near the village of Valpoi.
● There
are a number of picturesque waterfalls
within the sanctuary boundaries. The most prominent are the Vazra Sakla Falls
and the Virdi Falls.
● The
cliff face near the Vazra falls is
notable for being the nesting grounds of the critically endangered Long-billed
vultures.
Flora:
● The
sanctuary is thickly forested with moist deciduous vegetation and some
evergreen species tools.
● The
sanctuary is particularly well-known for its sacred groves that protect rare
and indigenous trees.
Fauna:
● Indian
gaur, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, Wild
boar, Indian hare etc.
● The
sanctuary is a huge attraction for herpetologists since it contains a large
variety of snakes including all of the ‘big four’ of Indian venomous snakes
which are the Indian krait, Russell’s viper, Saw-scaled viper and Spectacled
cobra
Unique
Geographical Features:
● Home to the three highest peaks in
Goa:
Sonsogod (1027 mts), Talavche Sada (812 mts), and Vageri (725 mts).
● The
lifeline of Goa, Mhadei River,
originates in Karnataka, passes through the sanctuary, and meets the Arabian
Sea at Panaji.
● Serves
as a catchment area for the Mhadei River, ensuring its vital contribution to
the region’s water resources.