Demand for Declaration of Goa Sanctuaries as Tiger Reserve | 10 Jan 2020

Activists and politicians from Goa have demanded that certain areas in wildlife sanctuaries of the state be notified as a tiger reserve.

In 2017, the State government had proposed about 500 sq km area of Mahadayi, Netravali and Cotigao sanctuaries with some part of Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary to be marked as a tiger reserve.
Recent deaths of four tigers in Mahadayi wildlife sanctuary has brought the demand again in the scenario.

Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Goa bounded by Cotigao wildlife sanctuary on the eastern side and Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary on the northern side.
It is predominantly moist deciduous forests with patches of semi-evergreen forest in the valleys.
It has two important waterfalls namely, Savari and Mainapi.
This region supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna and notable among them are Leopard, Giant Squirrel, Mouse Deer, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Ceylon Frogmouth.

Cotigao Sanctuary is situated in Canacona Taluka, of Goa.
It was established in 1968-69 to protect a remote and vulnerable area of forest lining the Goa- Karnataka border.
The vegetation is mostly moist-deciduous type, interspersed with semi-evergreen and evergreen patches.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Mollem town of Goa.
It is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries of Goa and contains within it the Mollem National Park.
It was formed to protect the vast biodiversity of the Western Ghat.
Originally known as the Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and thence renamed the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
The sanctuary is heavily forested and contains tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests.