Field visit to Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary

 Our next visit is planned to Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary near Alibaug on 25th and 26th January 2020. Resource person will be Dr. Vinaya Ghate (Ex HOD Botany, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune).

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Raigad District, 42 km south of Alibag along the Konkan coast. It was a private hunting forest owned by Nawab of Murud Janjira in pre-independence period. It was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary by Govt. of Maharashtra on 25th October 1986. Area is 52.73 square km. The terrain is hilly interspersed with rocky plateaus locally called as 'Mal'. There is a mixed deciduous forest along with few semi-evergreen patches along the streams. There are 27 water streams in the area of which 15 are perennial. These streams are locally called as 'Gan'. We will be studying flora in detail. A fair diversity of birds, insects, reptiles can be spotted during the trails. Trails are long and…