Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Satara district
of the India
n state
of Maharashtra
. The sanctuary is nested in the Western Ghats
, covering an area of around 426.52 and with an altitude ranging from 600 to 1,100 meters (2,000–3,600 ft). It was notified in 1985 as a wildlife sanctuary.
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary has dense forests with three major sections, Vasota, Maharkhor and Indavli Met, and the sanctuary is endowed with natural protective boundaries – Shivasagar Lake on one side, and the slopes of the Western Ghats on both the sides. This protective cover has enabled the emergence of a diverse variety of flora and fauna in the sanctuary. Some of the endangered species of trees found in the sanctuary are Dhup (Boswellia serrata
), Euphorbia longan, and Elaeocarpus
spp., apart from many other species of trees. The sanctuary has a diverse variety of fauna including tigers and panthers; gaurs and sambars; barking and mouse deers; pythons and cobras; common langurs and Indian Giant Squirrel
s. Many species of birds are found in the sanctuary including brown capped woodpecker; Asian Fairy Bluebird
; and Crested Goshawk
.
Another attraction of the sanctuary is Vasota Fort
which lies deep in the forests and is located at a height of above sea level. The legend states that the fort was constructed by Malwa king Raja Bhoja
in 1170.
The rivers Koyna
, Kandati, and Solashi meander through the sanctuary. It also forms the catchment area for the Koyna River, and the Shivasagar reservoir formed by the Koyna Dam
. To the south of the park lies the Chandoli National Park
.
Satara district
Satara District is a district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of 10,480 km² and a population of 2,808,994 of which 14.17% were urban . Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Wai, Karad, Koregaon, Koyananagar, Rahimatpur, Phaltan, Mahabaleshwar...
of the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. The sanctuary is nested in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, covering an area of around 426.52 and with an altitude ranging from 600 to 1,100 meters (2,000–3,600 ft). It was notified in 1985 as a wildlife sanctuary.
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary has dense forests with three major sections, Vasota, Maharkhor and Indavli Met, and the sanctuary is endowed with natural protective boundaries – Shivasagar Lake on one side, and the slopes of the Western Ghats on both the sides. This protective cover has enabled the emergence of a diverse variety of flora and fauna in the sanctuary. Some of the endangered species of trees found in the sanctuary are Dhup (Boswellia serrata
Boswellia serrata
Boswellia serrata is Indian frankincense or Salai. It is found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Andhara Pradesh in India.- Medical usage :...
), Euphorbia longan, and Elaeocarpus
Elaeocarpus
Elaeocarpus is a genus of tropical and subtropical evergreen trees and shrubs. The approximately 350 species are distributed from Madagascar in the west through India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, southern China, and Japan, through Australia to New Zealand, Fiji, and Hawaii in the east. The islands of...
spp., apart from many other species of trees. The sanctuary has a diverse variety of fauna including tigers and panthers; gaurs and sambars; barking and mouse deers; pythons and cobras; common langurs and Indian Giant Squirrel
Indian Giant Squirrel
The Indian giant squirrel, or Malabar giant squirrel, is a large tree squirrel species genus Ratufa native to India. It is a large-bodied diurnal, arboreal, and herbivorous squirrel found in South Asia.-Description:...
s. Many species of birds are found in the sanctuary including brown capped woodpecker; Asian Fairy Bluebird
Asian Fairy Bluebird
The Asian Fairy-bluebird, Irena puella, is a medium-sized, arboreal passerine bird.This fairy-bluebird is found in forests across tropical southern Asia from the Himalayan foothills, India and Sri Lanka east through Indochina, the Greater Sundas and Palawan . Two or three eggs are laid in a small...
; and Crested Goshawk
Crested Goshawk
The Crested Goshawk is a bird of prey from tropical Asia. It is related to other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers, and thus placed in the family Accipitridae.-Description:...
.
Another attraction of the sanctuary is Vasota Fort
Vasota Fort
Vasota Fort is located in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.. It was famously defended by Tai Telin a mistress of Pant Pratinidhi a killedar of the fort when he was captured....
which lies deep in the forests and is located at a height of above sea level. The legend states that the fort was constructed by Malwa king Raja Bhoja
Bhoja
Bhoja was a philosopher king and polymath of medieval India, who ruled the kingdom of Malwa in central India from about 1000 to 1050 CE. Also known as Raja Bhoja Of Dhar, he belonged to the Paramara dynasty...
in 1170.
The rivers Koyna
Koyna River
The Koyna River rises in Mahabaleshwar and is a tributary of the Krishna River in western Maharashtra, India. It rises near Mahableshwar, a famous hill station in the Western Ghats. Unlike most of the other rivers in Maharashtra which flow East-West direction, the Koyna river flows in North-South...
, Kandati, and Solashi meander through the sanctuary. It also forms the catchment area for the Koyna River, and the Shivasagar reservoir formed by the Koyna Dam
Koyna Dam
The Koyna Dam is one of the largest dams in Maharashtra, India. It is a rubble-concrete dam constructed on Koyna River which rises in Mahabaleshwar, a hillstation in Sahyadri ranges...
. To the south of the park lies the Chandoli National Park
Chandoli National Park
Chundolli National Park an 317.67 km² Indian National Park, established in May 2004, earlier a Wildlife Sanctuary declared in 1985, is located near the between longitudes 73°40' E and 73°53' E and latitudes 17°03'N and 17°20'N near Sangli in Western Maharashtra...
.