Goa Wildlife
» Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
| Location
of Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: |
Goa,
India |
| Area covered: |
25.16 sq. km. |
| Main Wildlife Found
in Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: |
Birds,
Butterflies |
| Best time to visit
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: |
Nov
to Jan (The sanctuary remains open round
the year) |
On
the western tip of the island of Chorao along
River Mandovi, mangrove swamps cover this
bird-watchers' paradise aptly named after
India's best-known ornithologist. The "Mangrove
Scrub" type of vegetation that is found here
occurs in small isolated areas along the banks
of Mandovi and Mapusa rivers and also along
the Cumbarjua canal.
This Sanctuary is criss-crossed with a network
of water channels. So movement is restricted
to the duration of high tide if one wants
to go by boats. However for canoes, the creeks
are accessible even during low tides.
A watch-tower has been erected in the Sanctuary
for better viewing of birds. Apart from the
several resident birds, the Sanctuary also
has some winter visitors like coots and pintails.
How to reach:
From Panaji , one needs to take a bus or
a cab to the Ribandar ferry wharf and then
take a ferry across the Mandovi river to the
island of Chorao. The sanctuary is within
walking distance from the ferry wharf at Chorao.
Best Season to visit Salim Ali Bird
Sanctuary
Open throughout the year, the sanctuary
can be visited with the permission of the
Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department,
Junta House, Panaji. Apart from a rich variety
of coastal birds, one may spot flying foxes,
jackals and crocodiles.
The area consists of mangrove vegetation.
They provide refuge and breeding grounds for
several varieties of fish and insects which
fall at the base of the food-chain.
