Do It Go

The city of Goa has many wildlife sanctuaries.  Some are dedicated to various species of the animal kingdom, and some, such as the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary are species specific.   The best time of year to visit any of these outdoor locations is the winter season, which falls between the months of October through March.  The summer season in Goa is sweltering hot, and the monsoon season, although a beautiful time of year, is quite rainy and stormy.  The winter season is also the peak tourist season, so book  accommodations early in four star hotels.  Goa becomes very crowded and the hotels often times are booked to capacity.

Dr. Salim’s Sanctuary is located along the Mandovi River in Goa, and although the smallest, is the most well known in India.  Dr. Salim was a respected ornithologist in India.  There is a large variety of plants and over four hundred different species of  birds in this small sanctuary , of just under 2 kilometers square.  Local species are housed here as well as some of the migratory and exotic as well.  One must obtain permission to visit from the Forest Department.  The sanctuary sits in a mangrove forest, mangroves being one of the best habitats for animals as well as insects and fish.  Just after the monsoon season, the beginning of winter, is the best time to visit as the birds are out and about, and the migratory species have flown in.  One may also catch glimpses of the other species indigenous to the area such as foxes, jackals and crocodiles.

The Cotigoa is located in the southern part of Goa, in the district of  Canacona, and houses various species of the animal kingdom.  Opened in 1969, it is quite expansive, covering almost ninety kilometers square.  It is second in size only to the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary.  In order to travel to this location it will be necessary to hire a driver.  Once there, there are spectacular views from the various towers.  The Talpona River runs through the center of the park, and is one of the spots many of the animals are regularly seen.  This sanctuary also has a center for Wildlife Interpretation which offers lectures and seminars on the plant-life and the wildlife.  The forests are thick here, and offer home to the species such as panthers, bison, hyenas, and eagles.  It is an incredible sight to see.

Related posts:

1. Wildlife of Phuket, Thailand
2. Preparing to Visit Goa
3. Folk Dance of Goa
4. Ayurveda in Goa
5. Dharmananda Kosambi

Tags: four, Goa, hotels, star

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.