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BHIMGAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

22nd May, 2023

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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.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements with reference to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is/are correct?

1. The sanctuary is a mosaic of Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and grass lands.

2. The area takes its name from the Bhimgad Fort.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: 3

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