Cotigao Jungle Safari
12 Nov 2008
~ Amit Kalekar
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I had been to Cotigaon Wildlife Sanctuary on 31st Oct-1-2 Nov 2008. It was a heavenly trip for me. My trip started from Kolhapur at 6:30 AM on 31st. We halted in Amboli for tea and snacks. In Cotigao, I could sense the feel of a Leopard which was at 5-6 feet distance from me on my right side in the bush! I could touch and feel a young Green Vine Snake, a juvenile Crocodile, a Chameleon, Bronze back snake, all in my hands! Woooo!!! I could even spot a poisonous black scorpion (इंगळी).
The jungle is very cool, with trees reaching at least 80 feet, competing against each other.
There are many crocodile bark trees too, which is Goa's state tree.
There are numerous species of plants, birds. The jungle is famous for reptiles like snakes, frogs, lizards. Even there are numerous Giant Spiders who have woven their cobwebs and are waiting for the prey to get caught in...
Sometimes a Gaur (Gava in Marathi) is also spotted here. We were told that the beautiful Karvy, a purple blue flowering plant is blossoming this year after 7 year cycle, and these Gaurs eat only the top budding portion of these plants' leaves. I could see beautiful leaf nest woven by Weaver ants!
There was also a leftover skin of a molting snake.
On our way to a jungle safari, we could spot a tall tree poked at several places by woodpeckers, for building their nests!
There are several beautiful spots in jungle where we can wait and look at the nature at its beautiful best. You must possess a good camera and a binocular though. We can stay in Forest department cottages. Those are well maintained.
There were a few free houses built over tall trees.
Food quality is also very good, I was totally on “Baangda” fish in these 3 days, what a taste! ☺️ There is a beach too, nearby (Galjibag). There is soooo much greenery all around that we couldn't sense that there is beautiful beach just nearby!
This beach is famous for the endangered Olive Green Ridley turtles which lay their eggs on this beach at night time in this time of the year. Out of 1000 eggs laid, only 1-2 can produce a full grown turtle, such is the low rate of success there. So to encourage the breeding rate, there are several measures taken. Turtle nests are spotted and are protected by forest dept people. In 45 days the eggs hatch and the new-born turtles run toward the beautiful clean untouched sea water here.
Swimming in this sea water is a very nice experience. After our nature trails in the evenings, Mr Poresh Porob (pronounce as Parab), the Range Forest Officer (RFO) used to talk to us @ his rich, horrifying, funny, sad, bad, exhilarating experiences. He is an expert in both botany as well as Zoology. He is very energetic, helping, witty, courageous officer. Without his help it was not possible for us to enjoy the forest to that extent.
There is also a small arboretum (a small zoo) wherein spotted deer, Indian cobra, crocodile, vine snake are kept and are cared.
While coming back, we purchased beautiful wooden toys, some eatables like cashew, some pure honey in Amboli / Sawantwadi. See my fotos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkBo1GsiPlDIj0fz2.
Also you can see fotos in below links http://picasaweb.google.com/umeshnanaware/CotigaonWLSGoa# and http://picasaweb.google.com/Anshuisback1/Cotigoan#
~ Amit
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