Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
If
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.
