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Wild Life

Due to the rapid concretisation of the lands and urbanisation, the shelter places of the animals, birds etc. are getting diminished and these creatures are finding it very difficult to survive and some species are becoming extinct.  Looking at this grave situation, the local Governments have swung into action and taken steps to declare some of the Wldlife and Bird Sanctuaries all over the country to preserve the rare species of Animals and Birds. The Great Indian Bustard (Maldhok) is one of such rarest birds of Indian Sub continent. The Bird is found only in some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh States. The respective State Governments have declared the sancturies for the Great Indian Bustard.

The Government of Maharashtra declared Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in 1979 with the sole objective of conserving the rarest species of Great Indian Bustard which are endangered with extinction. The sanctuary consists of the area of North Solapur, Madha, Mohol and Karmala Talukas of Solapur District and Karjat, Shrigonda, Newasa Talukas of Ahmednagar District covering a total area of 8496.44 sq.kms.This bird has been included in the Schedule-1 of Wildlife Act 1972 and accordingly due protection has been given to this bird. The headquarters of the sanctuary are Nannaj of Solapur District and Rehekuri of Ahmednagar District.

The other salient features of the Sanctuary are as below:

  • Location – Madha, Mohal, Karmala, North Solapur Talukas of Solapur District and Karjat, Srigonda, Newasa Talukas of Ahmednagar District.
  • Name of the Sanctuary – The Great Indian Bustard (Maldhok) Sanctuary.
  • Sanctuary Headquarters – 1. Nannaj Tq.North Solapur, Dist.Solapur 2. Rehekuri, Tq. Karjat, Dist.Ahmednagar.
  • Geographical Area – 8496.44 sq.kms.
  • Sanctuary Notification No. – 1. W.LP/1078/72634/F.A dtd.,27.09.1979 2.W.LP/1085/CR-588/F-5 dtd.19.09.1985.
  • Temperature : Min. 16 degrees celcius, Max. 43 degrees celcius.
  • Average Rainfall – 450 to 600 mms.
  • Approach – By Road – Nannaj : Solapur-Barshi Road, 22 kms. from Solapur, Rehekuri : Karjat-Valvad Road, 8 kms. from Karjat.
  • Forest Type – Southern Tropical Thorn forest.
  • Biogeographic Zone – 6 B (Deccan Peninsula – Central Plateau)
  • Major Floral Species – Neem, Sissoo, Babul, Bor, Tarwad, Henkal, Dongri, Kusali Pavanya, Sheda, Marvel etc.
  • Major Faunal Species : The Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck, Wolf, Indian Fox, Jackal etc.
  • Accommodation – Forest Rest Houses at Solapur, Nannaj, Karmala, Madha, Rehekuri, Karjat, Srigonda, Newasa.
  • Best time to visit – July to December.