Tourism
of Goa
Wildlife
in Goa
Cotigao
Wildlife SanctuaryIf
one wants to see multi-storeyed forests with tall trees and rare plants,
where hardly any light reaches the ground, Cotigao Sanctuary is the place to
go to. It touches the border of Karnataka state and in the lean season,
several gaurs are known to come into Cotigao from its neighbourhood. The
vegetation is mostly moist-deciduous type, interspersed with semi-evergreen
and evergreen patches.
It is situated in Canacona Taluka, in the
south of Goa. It lies at about 2 km from Poinguinim , which is 10 km away
from Chaudi, the main town of Cancacona on NH17. So the approach is very
convenient.
The Nature Interpretation Centre run by the Forest
Department is a valuable repository of knowledge. At present, the Department
is capable of providing rudimentary facilities like snake-proof camping
sites, canvas tents, reference material and loads of goodwill. For those who
really want to rough it out, there is no end of possibilities.
If
you are brave enough, the Forest Dept can provide cots and mosquito-nets. So
that all that lies between you and the jungle is a thin mesh. Otherwise, the
Forest Department has one two-bedded suite available at Poinguinim, 2 km.
away from the Sanctuary. The dense forests, perennial streams, and
picturesque undulating terrain provide for a unique wildlife refuge.
The
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, was established in 1969 to protect a remote and
vulnerable area of forest lining the Goa- Karnataka border. Encompassing
86-sq-kms of mixed deciduous woodland, the reserve is certain to inspire
tree lovers, but less likely to yield many wildlife sightings: its tigers
and leopards were hunted out long ago, while the Gazelles, Sloth Bears,
Porcupines, Panthers and Hyenas that allegedly lurk in the woods rarely
appear.
Visitors however, stand a good chance of spotting at least
two species of Monkey, a couple of Wild Boar and the odd Gaur. The sanctuary
is best visited between the months of October and March. Cotigao is a
peaceful and scenic park that makes a pleasant day trip from Palolem beach,
12-km northwest. The wardens at the reserve's small Interpretative Centre
will show one how to get to a 25m-high treetop watchtower, overlooking a
waterhole that attracts a handful of animals around dawn and dusk.
Any
of the buses running south on NH-17 to Karwar via Chaudi will drop one
within 2-km of the gates. However, to explore the inner reaches of the
sanctuary, one really needs one's own transport.
Written
permission for an overnight stay, either in the watchtower or the forest
department's small rest house must be obtained from the Deputy Conservator
Of Forests, 3rd Floor, Junta House, Panaji, as far in advance of one's visit
as possible.
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