BHIMGAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

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Context

• Two forest guards have been suspended for failing to prevent encroachment in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a protected area in the Western Ghats, in Khanapur Taluk of Belgavi District near Jamboti Village, Karnataka.
• This Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests forest area was long awaiting to be a wild life sanctuary and finally declared in December 2011.
• The Bhimgad forests are notable for the Barapede caves, the only known breeding area of the Wroughton's free-tailed bat, a threatened species on the verge of extinction.

Etymology

• The area takes its name from the Bhimgad Fort which was built and commanded by Shivaji in the 17th century.
• It is located in the heart of the forest valley.
• Built by Shivaji to defend from the Portuguese troops who controlled Goa that time, rises 1800 ft near vertically above the plains.

Geography

• It is contiguous to the east of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, north-west of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park and north of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa and north of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.
• The western border areas encompasses several geomorphological limestone formations with several caves.

Rivers

• This area is the headwaters of several rivers including the Mhadei, Malaprabha and Tillari and hundreds of perennial streams.

Fauna

• The region has numerous endemic plants and animals and also provides a critically important tiger corridor between Karnataka and Goa.
• The sanctuary is home to tigers, leopards, gaur, sloth bears, sambar, spotted deer, chitals, foxes, wild dogs, king cobras elephants, and other threatened species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
• The forests are a part of vital tiger corridors – one linking the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra and the other linking Dandeli and the Molem Wildlife Sanctuary.

Flora

• The sanctuary is a mosaic of Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and grass lands.
• It is rich in medicinal plants.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/forest-guards-suspended-for-failing-to-halt-encroachment-in-bhimgad-wildlife-sanctuary-8618709//