Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is an estuarine mangrove habitat, which is declared as a bird sanctuary, and located on western tip of the Island of Chorão along the Mandovi River, Goa, in India. The sanctuary is named after Salim Ali, the eminent Indian ornithologist.The sanctuary and island are accessed by a ferry service running between Ribander and Chorão. The sanctuary has a paved walk that runs between mangroves of Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia officinalis and other species. Spread over 1.78 Sq. kms. and located at the western tip of the island of Chorao along the river Mandovi near Panaji, it is fully covered with mangrove species. Varieties of local as well as migratory birds frequently visit the area. A watch-tower has been erected in the Sanctuary for better viewing of birds. Apart from the several resident birds, the Sanctuary also has some winter visitors that offets a feast for the eyes for ornithologists. This sanctuary can be visited anytime of the year with the permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden, Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji – Goa. The Sanctuary is approachable on foot after crossing over by ferry from Ribandar to Chorao. There area some private parties who take tourists around in their canoes fitted with outboard motors.

Animal Life

So much variety, urban, rural and forest, Goa has more than 50 species of animals. Unfortunately most of them are in the deep forest. You find leopards, monkeys, deer, leopard cat, Indian civet, the gaur or Indian bison, the sloth bear, the Indian porcupine, the pangolin, the slender loris, the wild boar and the mongoose. Monkeys are found all across Goa . The most common species is the pink-bottomed macaque followed by the Hanuman langur. Goa has four species of bats, the fruit bat, the Dormers bat, the horse-shoe bat, and the Malay fox vampire. Flying foxes are also present in large numbers. Most of these are found in the rural interior areas. The Indian giant squirrel, the smaller three-striped squirrel and the five-striped palm squirrel are also found in most areas. There are four species of deer: the cheetal or spotted axis deer, the sambar, the barking deer and the mouse deer. The smaller deer are preyed on by predators: the striped hyena, the jackal, and the wild dog.

Bird Watching in Goa

With its varied and unique habitats, from the beaches and river banks to the mountainous slopes of the Western Ghats, Goa is very much a bird watchers paradise. The state boasts a wide variety of bird life, both resident and migratory and has made ample provisions for ardent ornithologists who would like to indulge in a spot of exotic bird watching.

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