about
Flora & fauna of sanctuary
Sanctuary is a natural world heritage site, lies at the southern end of Western Ghats; on the border of Kolhapur and Sindhudurga. It is popularly knows as Birson Sanctuary as Indian Bison/Gaur with population more than 1000 individuals is the flagship species of this area.
Dajipur Sanctuary contains tropical evergreen forests. 425 species of plants have been recorded in the sanctuary. The main species found over here are Anjani, Jambul, Hirda, Awala, Pisa, Ain, Kinjal, Amba, Kumbha, Bhoma, Chandala, Katak, Nana, Umbar, Jambha, Gela, Bibba and banana. Karvi is found over almost the entire area.
Climbing plants such as shikekai and garambi are common. Shrub species and medicinal plants such as Karvand, Vagati, Ranmiri, Tamalpatra Cinnamomum tamala, Toran, Dhayati, Kadipatta, Narkya, Murudsheng and a small amount of Bamboo are also found.
Large numbers of ephemeral bulbs of seasonal plants are also found here. Many sacred groves or devrais have been protected as a result of the efforts of the local communities.
Indian bison or gaur is the flagship animal of this sacntuary. Other mammals, living in the sanctuary are Indian leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, barking deer, mouse deer, sambar, giant squirrel and wild dogs. In recent years, sightings of tigers was also reported in sanctuary; though reports are not yet confirmed. Birds seen here include: vultures, eagles, jungle fowl, quails, plovers, sandpipers, owlets, doves, owls, nightjars, kingfishers, bee-eater, hornbills, woodpeckers, bulbul, flycatchers, warblers, wagtails, sunbirds are commonly seen. Sanctuary is designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and is home to the rare and globally threatened Nilgiri wood-pigeon. Other species found here include the Ceylon frogmouth, yellow-browed bulbul, dusky eagle-owl and great pied hornbill and one of India's most admired songbirds, the Malabar whistlingthrush. Two species endemic to the Western Ghats: the small sunbird and the Malabar grey hornbill have been sighted here. This sanctuary is a favorite nesting place for the speckled piculet, Malabar crested lark, and some species of Himalayan birds such as the Indian blue robin during the winter months.
Threatened species of reptiles and amphibians seen in this sanctuary include: Malabar pit viper, Deccan ground gecko, Gunther's cat skink, Beddome's lacerta, Bombay bush frog and Humayun's wrinkled frog.
