| Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary | |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
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| Location | Maharashtra, India |
| Nearest city | Koyna Nagar |
| Area | 42.652 km2 (16.468 sq mi) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | Ministry of Environment and Forests |
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Satara district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The sanctuary is nested in the Western Ghats, covering an area of around 426.52 km2 (164.68 sq mi) 426.52 and with an altitude ranging from 600 to 1,100 meters (2,000–3,600 ft). It was notified in 1985 as a wildlife sanctuary.[1]
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary has dense forests with three major sections, Vasota, Maharkhor and Indavli Met, and the sanctuary is endowed with natural protective boundaries – Shivasagar Lake on one side, and the slopes of the Western Ghats on both the sides. This protective cover has enabled the emergence of a diverse variety of flora and fauna in the sanctuary. Some of the endangered species of trees found in the sanctuary are Dhup (Boswellia serrata), Euphorbia longan, and Elaeocarpus spp., apart from many other species of trees. The sanctuary has a diverse variety of fauna including tigers and panthers; gaurs and sambars; barking and mouse deers; pythons and cobras; common langurs and Indian Giant Squirrels. Many species of birds are found in the sanctuary including brown capped woodpecker; Asian Fairy Bluebird; and Crested Goshawk.
Another attraction of the sanctuary is Vasota Fort which lies deep in the forests and is located at a height of 1,120 m (3,675 ft) above sea level. The legend states that the fort was constructed by Malwa king Raja Bhoja in 1170.
The rivers Koyna, Kandati, and Solashi meander through the sanctuary. It also forms the catchment area for the Koyna River, and the Shivasagar reservoir formed by the Koyna Dam. To the south of the park lies the Chandoli National Park.[2]