Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary was created in the Ambegaon and Khed talukas of Pune District, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra in order mainly to protect the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel.
It spreads through 3 districts of Maharashtra; Pune District, Raigad District and Thane District.

Details

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary has an area of and is a part of the Western Ghats, which itself is recognised as one of the 12 biodiversity hotspots of the world. 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.
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 for generations. These sacred groves act as gene pools of this area, from where seeds were dispersed. In Ahupe - a tribal village's sacred grove in the sanctuary, a climber Khombhal - Xantolis tomentosa was found to be 800-1000 years old in 1984.

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 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, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wildboar, Common Langur, Rhesus Macaque and the Mouse Deer. The Indian Pangolin is also reported. Sanctuary is rich in specialised and endemic reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and insects. During the monsoon, various species of mosses and epiphytes including bioluminescent fungi can be seen on the trees.