human development

 Popular for its biodiversity, the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gondia district of Maharashtra. The sanctuary is known for dense vegetation, picturesque landscapes and the variety in its wildlife population. The sanctuary serves as a green lung for adjoining human settlements and helps in maintaining the environmental balance.

Spread over around 152.81 sq km, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1970. It is said that elephants once were found in large numbers and were the reason behind naming the sanctuary.

The sanctuary has lush green vegetation. The sanctuary has nearly 200 tree species which includes economical, medical, aromatic and ornamental plant species.

The sanctuary is also highly rich for the diverse fauna which includes several species of fishes, 34 species of mammals, 166 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles and four species of amphibians.

Among the mammals, tigers, panthers, jungle cats, small Indian civets, sloth bears, four horned antelopes and many more can be spotted. Decrease in the population of tigers led the state government to merge the sanctuary with Navegaon National Park.

The avifauna is the most attractive feature of the sanctuary. It houses 15 migratory birds and 42 species of local migrants. Among the birds, the bar-headed goose is favourite among tourists. It migrates during the winter months from Ladakh and Tibet.

One can also get to see reptiles such as Indian cobra, rock python, russel’s viper and many more. The sanctuary is also home to four amphibian species including the tree-frog and six-toed frog.

The sanctuary also serves as catchment area for several lakes within the sanctuary. The Nagzira lake, Thadezeri lake, Chorkhamara lake and other lakes are important for agricultural and fishing purposes.