https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bhimashankar_Wildlife_SanctuaryBhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history2026-07-31T19:52:24ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bhimashankar_Wildlife_Sanctuary&diff=169654&oldid=prev72.80.211.218 at 13:59, 26 August 20212021-08-26T13:59:50Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}<br />
{{Infobox protected area<br />
| name = Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary<br />
| alt_name = <br />
| iucn_category = IV<br />
| photo = <br />
| photo_alt = <br />
| photo_caption = <br />
| photo_width = <br />
| map = India Maharashtra<br />
| map_alt = <br />
| map_caption = Location within Maharashtra<br />
| map_width = <br />
| location = [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]<br />
| nearest_city = [[Pune]]<br />
| coordinates = {{coords|19.132|73.554|region:IN-MH|notes=<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://protectedplanet.net/sites/Bhimashankar_Sanctuary| title=Bhimashankar Sanctuary| work=protectedplanet.net}}</ref>|display=inline, title}}<br />
| area = {{Convert|131|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<br />
| established = 1984<br />
| visitation_num = <br />
| visitation_year = <br />
| governing_body = <br />
| world_heritage_site = <br />
| url = <br />
}}<br />
'''Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary''' was created in the [[Ambegaon taluka|Ambegaon]] and [[Khed (taluka of Pune)|Khed]] [[Tehsil|taluka]]s of [[Pune District]], in the Western [[India]]n state of [[Maharashtra]] in order mainly to protect the habitat of the [[Indian giant squirrel|Indian Giant Squirrel]].<br />
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== History ==<br />
This sanctuary was created in 1984.<br />
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==Details==<br />
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary has an area of {{Convert|131|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and is a part of the [[Western Ghats]] (Sahyadri Ranges), which itself is recognised as one of the 12 [[Biodiversity hotspot|biodiversity hotspots]] of the world.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-20|title=International Day of Forests: Explore the best wild life sanctuaries in Maharashtra - The Financial Express|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/international-day-of-forests-2021-world-forest-day-2021-maharashtra-forests-tiger-reserves/2216809/|access-date=2021-06-10|website=www.financialexpress.com}}</ref> The sanctuary was notified by the state government of Maharashtra in 1985 with the total area of is 130.78sq. km., under the [[Wildlife Protection Act, 1972|Wildlife Protection Act 1972]].<br />
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The sanctuary includes nine tribal villages. The area's bio-diversity has been retained as it will be preserved as a cluster of [[Sacred groves of India|sacred groves]] for generations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Deo|first1=Sharmila|date=|title=The Environment Education Programme in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary|url=https://kalpavriksh.org/our-work/environment-education/locale-specific-education-programmes/|website=|publisher=Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group}}</ref> These sacred groves act as gene pools of this area, from where seeds were dispersed. In Ahupe - a tribal ([[Mahadev Koli]]) village's sacred grove in the sanctuary, a climber Khombhal - ''[[Xantolis tomentosa]]'' was found to be 800&ndash;1000 years old in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aseanbiodiversity.info/scripts/count_article.asp?Article_code=52001776 |title=Guardians of the Forest |last1=Karnik |first1=Kusum |date=2003-02-21 |publisher=Shaswat Trust |work=aseanbiodiversity.info |access-date=2011-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170956/http://www.aseanbiodiversity.info/scripts/count_article.asp?Article_code=52001776 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
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=== Flora and Fauna ===<br />
The sanctuary harbours large diversity of [[endemic]] & specialised [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. Sanctuary is home to the state animal of Maharashtra- Ratufa indica elphistonii, sub species of the [[Indian giant squirrel|Indian Giant squirrel]] that is one of three threatened Indo-Malyan squirrel species. The particular sub species found here is endemic to Bhimashankar. Important mammals reported from the sanctuary are [[carnivores]] like Leopard Panthera pardus, and [[Golden Jackal]] (''Canis aureus''), [[Sambar deer|Sambar]] (''Cervus unicolor''), [[Barking Deer]] (''Muntiacus muntjak''), [[Wild boar|Wildboar]] (''Sus scrofa''), [[Common Langur]] (''Semnopithecus entellus''), [[Rhesus Macaque]] (''Macaca mulatta'') and the [[Mouse Deer]] (''Moschiola meminna''). The Indian [[Pangolin]] (''Manis crassicaudata'') is also reported. Sanctuary is rich in specialised and endemic [[reptiles]], [[amphibians]], [[butterflies]] and [[insects]]. During the monsoon (rainy season), various species of [[mosses]] and [[epiphytes]] including bioluminescent fungi can be seen on the trees.<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Bhimashankar]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [http://wildlife-tours.tourtravelworld.com/wildlife-sanctuaries/bhimashankar-wildlife-sanctuary.htm Wildlife tour travelworld.com: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary]<br />
* http://www.bhimashankar.in<br />
* http://www.bhimashankar.net.in<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra]]<br />
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of the Western Ghats]]<br />
[[Category:North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]]<br />
[[Category:Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune district]]<br />
[[Category:1984 establishments in Maharashtra]]<br />
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1984]]<br />
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{{Pune-geo-stub}}<br />
{{India-protected-area-stub}}</div>72.80.211.218