Travel-India

Details: Written by Anchal B Chaudhary

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

Lining the Goa-Karnataka border on the southern end of Goa, is Goa’s second largest wildlife sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.

Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1968, Cotigao has a convenient approach as it is barely 10 Km from Chaudi, the main town of Canacona.

Known for its multi-storeyed forests with tall trees and rare plants, Cotigao Widlife Sanctuary has dense forests and perennial streams and provides an ideal home to a number of wild animals like porcupines, gazelles, sloth bears, hyenas, panthers, gaurs, flying squirrels and flying lizards.

The sanctuary houses an Eco-tourism complex which consists of a reception centre, a library, a rescue centre and a Nature Interpretation Centre which helps one gain an insight into wildlife at the park.

Stay at the Sanctuary

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is ideal for a day trip. However, those interested in a night stay either in the watch tower or the Forest Department’s small rest house, must obtain prior permission from Deputy Conservator of Forests, Third Floor, Junta House, Panaji, as far in advance of the stay as possible.

For those seeking adventure, Forest department provides snake-proof camping sites, canvas tents and reference material.

Tents can be booked on the spot at the Nature Interpretation Centre located at the entrance of the Park.

Watching the Wild

One can watch animals from a 25 m high watchtower located near Talpona River that flows through the sanctuary. Animals come to this river to quench their thirst and are spotted mostly around early mornings or evenings.