Karnala Bird Sanctuary

The Karnala Bird Sanctuary is located in Panvel Taluka of Raigad District, outside Mumbai, India near Matheran and Karjat.[1] The sanctuary is quite small with an area of 12.11 square kilometres but along with the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tungareshwar sanctuary is one of the few sanctuaries to be within reach of the city of Mumbai.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary
IUCN category II (national park)
The Karnala fort pinnacle, around which the sanctuary is located
LocationPanvel taluka, Raigad District, Maharashtra, India
Nearest cityMatheran and Karjat
Coordinates18°54′31″N 73°6′9″E
Area446 km2 (172 sq mi)
Governing bodyMaharashtra State Forest Department

Location

The sanctuary is centered on the historic Karnala Fort and lies just off the Mumbai-Pune national highway to Goa. It is located 12 km from Panvel. The nearest rail head is Panvel. Regular buses at an interval of 30 minutes are available from Panvel Bus Stand from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm. The sanctuary is open for visitors from sunrise to sunset. There are many hotels and resorts located near the sanctuary. There are two government rest houses inside the sanctuary area.

About

The bird sanctuary is a popular destination for bird-watchers and hikers in the Mumbai area.[2] The sanctuary is home to over 222 species birds of which 161 are resident species, 46 are winter migrant species, three are breeding migrants, seven species are passage migrants and five species are vagrant.[3] Following eight species endemic to Western Ghats has been found in Karnala: Grey-fronted Green-pigeon (Treron affinis), Nilgiri Woodpigeon (Columba elphinstonii), Malabar (Blue-winged) Parakeet (Psittacula columboides), Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus), White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis), Malabar Lark (Galerida malabarica), Small Sunbird (Leptocoma minima) and Vigor's Sunbird (Aethopyga vigorsii). .[4] Five rare birds, the ashy minivet, three-toed kingfisher, Malabar trogon, Slaty-legged Crake (Rallina eurizonoides), and Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii) have been sighted here. .[5] The Sanctuary is also an Important Bird Area (IBA) satisfying A1 (Globally threatened species) and A2 (Restricted-range species) criteria.[6] The sanctuary is also home to 114 species of butterflies.[7]

The Karnala fort is located on the top of the hill in the sanctuary. It is about 1hr. medium hard trek to Karnala fort.

There was a sighting of a leopard at Karnala.[8][9]

  • Sanctuary
  • Bird view tower

References
  1. Visit Karnala sanctuary in Maharashtra:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/quick-getaways-visit-the-karnala-bird-sanctuary-in-maharashtra-for-an-exotic-experience/articleshow/52760065.cms
  2. Visiting Karnala Bird Sanctuary:https://www.headlinesoftoday.com/topic/visiting-karnala-bird-sanctuary.html
  3. Checklist of birds of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, District Raigad, Maharashtra published in Newsletter for Birdwatchers
  4. Checklist of birds of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, District Raigad, Maharashtra published in Newsletter for Birdwatchers
  5. Checklist of birds of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, District Raigad, Maharashtra published in Newsletter for Birdwatchers
  6. Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in India Priority sites for conservation. Vol 1 & 2. Bombay Natural History Society, BirdLife International & RSPB, UK. 2016. pp. 1284–1287. ISBN 978-93-84678-02-9.
  7. Butterflies of Karnala Bird Sanctuary Kasambe BIONOTES 2016
  8. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-leopard-sighted-at-karnala-sanctuary-2195616
  9. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Trekkers-villagers-on-alert-due-to-leopard-sighting-near-Karnala-sanctuary/articleshow/51622133.cms
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