The breath –takingly beautiful beaches draw much of Goa’s share of limelight. But the hot and humid tropical climate of Goa coupled with the presence of more than forty estuarine, eight marine and about ninety riverine islands is conducive to lush vegetation which in turn supports a varied wildlife. The wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa are home toa wide variety of land marine and avian wildlife population which make them a popular haunt for all wildlife enthusiasts and photography buffs from all over the country. Named after the best known Indian ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the only bird sanctuary in Goa.
A bus or car ride from panaji will take you to the Ribandar ferry wharf. from there take a ferry across the mandovi river to the island of Chorao. The sanctuary is within walking distance from the ferry wharf at Chorao. Apart from a large variety of coastal and migratory birds, Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is also home to flying foxes, jackals and crocodiles which can be spotted. The vegetation here consists largely of mangrove swamps and provides refuge and breeding grounds for several varieties of fish and insects. The sanctuary is networked by a Mandovi and Mapusa rivers and the Cumbarjua canal, the banks of which support the “ Mangrove Scrub” vegetation.
The sanctuary is open throughout the year, entry to the sanctuary is prior to the permission of the Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji. Boats and canoes are the best means to explore the sanctuary. Boats cannot navigate in low tide but the narrow canoes fare marvelously at all times. Tourism-of-india.com offers information of the Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Goa. For more information or to book a tour package to Goa please fill up the form below. This is Goa’s only bird sanctuary,1.8 sq km in area. A variety of local and migratory birds can be found on this island. 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. The Wildlife Division of the Forest Department proposes to start conducted tours through the water channels .It is envisaged that a group of 8-9 persons could be taken at one time. However, the exact modalities are yet to be worked out. Resource material and useful information could be acquired at the Range Forest Office at Campal, in Panaji.
