Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary was created in the Ambegaon
and Khed taluka
s of Pune District
, in the Western India
n state of Maharashtra
in order mainly to protect the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel
, its area is 131 square kilometre and is a part of the Western Ghats
(Sahyadri Ranges). This sanctuary was created in 1984. The sanctuary includes 9 tribal villages. The areas bio-diversity has been retained as it was preserved as a cluster of sacred groves
for generations. These sacred groves act as gene pools of this area, from where seeds were dispersed. In Ahupe - a tribal (Mahadev Koli) village's sacred grove in the sanctuary, in 1984, a climber Khombhal - Xantolis tomentosa was found to be 800 - 1000 years old.
Ambegaon taluka
Ambegaon taluka is a taluka in Haveli subdivision of Pune district of state of Maharashtra in India....
and Khed taluka
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s of Pune District
Pune District
Pune District is situated in Maharashtra state of India. Pune city is the district headquarters. In the last census on 2001, the total population of the district was 7,232,555, making it the fourth most populous district in India . Urban population comprises 58.08% of the total population...
, in the Western India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
in order mainly to protect the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel
Indian Giant Squirrel
The Indian giant squirrel, or Malabar giant squirrel, is a large tree squirrel species genus Ratufa native to India. It is a large-bodied diurnal, arboreal, and herbivorous squirrel found in South Asia.-Description:...
, its area is 131 square kilometre and is a part of the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
(Sahyadri Ranges). This sanctuary was created in 1984. The sanctuary includes 9 tribal villages. The areas bio-diversity has been retained as it was preserved as a cluster of sacred groves
Sacred groves of India
Sacred groves of India are forest fragments of varying sizes, which are communally protected, and which usually have a significant religious connotation for the protecting community. Hunting and logging are usually strictly prohibited within these patches. Other forms of forest usage like honey...
for generations. These sacred groves act as gene pools of this area, from where seeds were dispersed. In Ahupe - a tribal (Mahadev Koli) village's sacred grove in the sanctuary, in 1984, a climber Khombhal - Xantolis tomentosa was found to be 800 - 1000 years old.