Goa has jungles! Which house rare and endangered animals! One such jungle is Bhagavan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, and they have night safaris!
Read on…
Our resort was located in Bhagavan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, North Goa. We were shown around the resort by the in-house naturalist, Mirjoy uncle, who explained how the resort was eco-friendly; had thatched roofs, mud walls and cow dung floors (cow dung keeps away certain types of insects and also has a pretty nice smell).
The resort had adopted a cute baby squirrel called Sonu, and were planning to release her into the wild when she was older.
She was somehow addicted to licking our hands and climbing up our arms. She ate mulberries and a small tree with a large rock for shelter was her favourite hideout.
Post dinner, it was time for the night safari! I was super excited!!!
We headed out in the dead of night, and travelled through the fringes of the jungle!
We trundled through the dark forest, shining torches around. At that moment, it really felt like we were at the mercy of the untamed wilderness! What a dream come true.
We scanned the trees alertly, feeling a growing sense of anticipation: what animals’ eyes would suddenly sparkle out of the darkness! Would it be a slender loris? Or a golden jackal? Or a Leopard?
We visited the heart of the jungle, the outskirts and the reservoirs, but no luck came our way. Then, just as we were beginning to lose hope, Mirjoy uncle spotted a black-napped hare. We frantically turned to see something flash past the torchlight.
A few minutes later, we saw a very tiny Jerdon’s nightjar. Hidden in the bushes, the torchlight was our only means of seeing even a small glimpse of it. We soon left it in peace to search for other animals.
Suddenly, uncle stopped the jeep. ‘’A leopard!! A leopard!’’ He informed us. We jostled forward in the jeep and waited. The most tantalising wait ever. Then uncle shifted his torch and said, ‘’It’s rather small and has unusually large ears!’’ We were surprised but excited.
We waited for almost an HOUR there and it was already 2.00 am.
But then, uncle spoke the most shocking, embarrassing, unexpected words: ‘’I think it may just be a barking deer…….!!!!!!!!!!’’ We were speechless. ‘’But it’s rare to see a barking deer at night!’’ he consoled us.
Over the next three ‘night safari’ trips, we had seen:
- Brown civet
- Slender Loris
- Flying squirrel
- Indian palm civet
- Golden jackal
- Black-napped hare
- Three types of nightjars (Jerdon’s, Jungle and Indian nightjars)
- Indian Gaurs
- Deer
Quite a list!!!
We were very, very happy! What an eventful three days!
Sadly, we had to leave the next morning. Of all the things, I really missed Sonu the baby squirrel.
Enjoy Bhagavan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary!
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