Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Recently, the Goa forest minister said the fire in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary was successfully doused after the Indian Navy conducted an aerial survey and the state forest department deployed guards to douse the blaze.

About Mhadei wildlife sanctuary –

• Mhadei wildlife sanctuary is located in the Northern Part of Goa, near the village of Valpoi.
• There are a number of picturesque waterfalls within the sanctuary boundaries. The most prominent are the Vazra Sakla Falls and the Virdi Falls.
• The cliff face near the Vazra falls is notable for being the nesting grounds of the critically endangered Long-billed vultures.
• Flora — The sanctuary is thickly forested with moist deciduous vegetation and some evergreen species too. The sanctuary is particularly well-known for its sacred groves that protect rare and indigenous trees. 
• Fauna — Indian gaur, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, Wild boar, Indian hare etc.
• The sanctuary is a huge attraction for herpetologists since it contains a large variety of snakes including all of the ‘big four’ of Indian venomous snakes which are the Indian krait, Russell’s viper, Saw-scaled viper and Spectacled cobra

What are sacred grooves?

• Sacred Groves are the tracts of virgin forests that are left untouched by the local inhabitants and are protected by the local people due to their culture and religious beliefs.
• Sacred groves are relic vegetation of once dominant flora. They are repositories of our rich biodiversity; they are also the last bastion where the rich culture and the customs of the indigenous people are still preserved.