Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
is a wildlife sanctuary and natural World Heritage Site of category ix and x since 2012, located in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra State, India. It lies at the southern end of the Sahyadri hills in the Western Ghats. It is notable as the first declared wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra, notified in 1958, as "Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary" and is popularly known as the "Bison Sanctuary". Indian bison or gaur with a population around 1091 in 2014, is the flagship species of the area. It was notified as Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary vide notification No. WLP/1085/CR/588/ V/F-5, Dt.16.9.1985. The area around the Sanctuary was declared as Eco sensitive zone by Govt. of India on 15 October 2020
Geography
This is a natural World Heritage Site notified by UNESCO as Sahyadri sub cluster of Western Ghats. The sanctuary is located between 16°10" to 16°30" north latitude and 73°52" to 74°14" east longitude. The Krishna River tributaries, Bhogavati River, Dudhganga River, Tulshi River, Kallamma River and Dirba River flow through the sanctuary's area. State Highway 116 passes through the center of the sanctuary. It is located in Sahyadri hill ranges. The total area of the sanctuary is.Flora
Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary contains tropical evergreen forests typical of the northern Western Ghats. 425 species of plants have been recorded in the sanctuary. The main species found over here are Anjani, Jambul, Hirda, Awala, Pisa, Ain, Kinjal, Amba, Kumbha, Bhoma, Chandala, Katak, Nana, Umbar, Jambha, Gela, Bibba and banana. Karvi is found over almost the entire area. Climbing plants such as shikekai and garambi are common. Shrub species and medicinal plants such as karvand, vagati, ranmiri, Tamalpatra Cinnamomum tamala,, dhayati, kadipatta, narkya, murudsheng and a small amount of bamboo are also found. Large numbers of ephemeral bulbs of seasonal plants are also found here. Many sacred groves or devrais have been protected as a result of the efforts of the local communities.Fauna
Sanctuary contains 47 species of Mammals, 59 species of reptiles, 264 species of birds and 66 species of butterflies. Amphibians are most visible in the rainy season. 20 species from 2 orders, 5 families and 10 genera are listed in the sanctuary. Indian bison or gaur have a population around 610 in 2004, is the flagship species of the area. Other mammals, living in the sanctuary are Indian leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, barking deer, mouse deer, sambar and wild dogs. In recent years, 6 to 12 tigers were reported in Dajipur forest 2007-08.Birds seen here include: vultures, eagles, jungle fowl, quails, plovers, sandpipers, owlets, doves, owls, nightjars, kingfishers, bee-eater, hornbills, woodpeckers, bulbul, flycatchers, warblers, wagtails, sunbirds are commonly seen. This sanctuary is designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and is home to the rare and globally threatened Nilgiri wood-pigeon. Other species found here include the Ceylon frogmouth, yellow-browed bulbul, dusky eagle-owl and great pied hornbill and one of India's most admired songbirds, the Malabar whistlingthrush.
Two species endemic to the Western Ghats: the small sunbird and the Malabar grey hornbill have been sighted here. This sanctuary is a favorite nesting place for the speckled piculet, Malabar crested lark, and some species of Himalayan birds such as the Indian blue robin during the winter months.
Threatened species of reptiles and amphibians seen in this sanctuary include: Malabar pit viper, Deccan ground gecko, Gunther's cat skink, Beddome's lacerta, Bombay bush frog and Humayun's wrinkled frog.