• The Goa Foundation has filed a contempt petition before the Bombay HC at Goa seeking action against the Goa government for not complying with the directions of the High Court to notify a tiger reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and other contiguous areas of the state within three months.

ABOUT MHADEI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (WLS)

• It is located in the Northern Part of Goa, near the village of Valpoi.
• The sanctuary covers a vast area of 208 sq. km.
• Its official declaration as a wildlife preserve came in 1999.
• The formation of this sanctuary made Goa the only state in the country that protects the entire area of the Western Ghats that falls within the state.
• Flora
  • Moist deciduous vegetation and some evergreen species too.
  • The sanctuary is particularly well-known for its sacred groves that protect rare and indigenous trees.
  • One of the most unusual trees found here is an evergreen variety of the Ashoka tree with peculiar saffron coloured flowers.
• Fauna- Indian gaur, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, Wild boar, Indian hare, Ruddy mongoose, Black-faced langur and Bonnet macaque.
  • Some seen more rarely include the Black Panther, Sloth bear, Leopard, Tiger, Dhole, Jungle cat, Mouse deer, Giant squirrel, Flying squirrel, Indian pangolin and the Slender loris.