Important Facts For Prelims
Black Panther in Netravali Sanctuary
- 08 May 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
A black panther was spotted in Goa’s Netravali Sanctuary.
- While the area is a known habitat of tigers, this is for the first time a black panther has been captured on camera in the sanctuary.
Black Panther
- A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of any Panthera, particularly of the leopard in Asia and Africa, and the jaguar in the Americas.
- Melanism is the increased development of the dark-colored pigment melanin in the skin or hair.
- It is as shy as a normal leopard and very difficult to detect. It is mostly found in densely forested areas of southern India.
- Areas where black panther has been spotted earlier:
- Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala)
- Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka)
- Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh)
- Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (Goa)
- Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu)
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
- Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in South Eastern Goa and constitutes one of the vital corridors of the Western Ghats.
- It is bounded by Cotigao wildlife sanctuary on the eastern side and Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park on the northern side.
- Netravali or Neturli is an important tributary of River Zuari, which originates in the sanctuary.
- It has two important waterfalls namely, Savari and Mainapi.
- Forests mostly consist of moist deciduous vegetation interspersed with evergreen and semi-evergreen habitat.
- Fauna: Leopard, Giant Squirrel, Mouse Deer, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Ceylon Frogmouth.
- Other Protected Areas in Goa:
- Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
- Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
- Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary
- Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
- Mollem National Park
- Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
