Bor Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located near Hingi in Wardha District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a home to a variety of wild animals. The sanctuary covers an area of 61.1 km2 (23.6 sq mi). which includes the drainage basin of the Bor Dam. It is notable that Bor Sanctuary and some adjacent protected areas will be merged with Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) as a 'Satellite core area', to more than double the area of that well established tiger reserve.
Bor Sanctuary is centrally located among several other Bengal Tiger habitats including: Pench Tiger Reserve Maharashtra), 90 km2 (35 sq mi) to the northeast; Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, 125 km2 (48 sq mi) to the east northeast; Umred Karhangla Wildlife Sanctuary (Pro),75 km2 (29 sq mi) to the east southeast; Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve, 85 km2 (33 sq mi) to the southeast; Melghat Tiger Reserve, 140 km2 (54 sq mi) to the west northwest and Satpura National Park and Tiger Reserve,160 km2 (62 sq mi) to the northwest.
The Core Zone of 55.92 km2 (21.59 sq mi) is the most protected and inviolate part of the sanctuary where the public is not allowed. It comprises 91.48% of the total area. Most of the core area is contiguous with good forest of Wardha Forest Division and Nagpur Forest Division. See Map of Bor Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Eco-tourism Zone of 5.21 km2 (2.01 sq mi) designated for public access for nature and wildlife tourism comprises 8.52% of the total sanctuary area . The purpose is to educate the public about the significance of nature and wildlife conservation and to stimulate environmental awareness.
The Buffer Zone is the less protected forest area near the Sanctuary that has been proposed as a protective barrier for the core area. The Bor Sanctuary is physically divided by the Bor Reservoir into 2 sections, namely; 2/3 (40 km2 (15 sq mi)), as the west part and 1/3, (21 km2 (8.1 sq mi)), as the eastern part. 95% of the western part is in Wardha district and 90% of the eastern part is in Nagpur district. The Bor Reservoir area is about 7.25 km2 (2.80 sq mi) and is not included in the total sanctuary area
Flora
The ecozone of the area is South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests with the main species being Teak,Ain, Tendu (East Indian Ebony) and Bamboo. The main herbs found in the sanctuary are Tarot, Tenella, Tarwar , Gokhru, Wight (bracteata), Vanbhendi,Velatri and Waghori.
Fauna
Mammal species such as the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian bison, blue bull, chital,sambar deer, peacock, barking deer, mouse deer, monkey, wild boar, sloth bear, and wild dog live here.
Tigers
As per the 2010-11 tiger estimation report, there are 24 tigers in the Pench and Bor landscape. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) estimated the presence of 12 tigers in and around the sanctuary but the number has increased to 15, with three new cubs sighted in March 2011. A tigress with two-month-old cubs; one male and two females, was first sighted by the field staff in the sanctuary's core zone.
The annual births of new tiger cubs shows that the Bor is a breeding ground for tigers, with cubs born here each of the past four years. In 2008, a tigress had three cubs, then one more tigress had two cubs in 2009, followed by another tigress with one cub in 2010 and three cubs in 2011.
The field director of Pench Tiger Reserve said the 2011 birthsseem to be the first litter of this tigress. "Better protection, good prey base and availability of water are three key factors why Bor is becoming a safe haven for tigers
Birds
There are than 160 species of birds belonging to 46 families of 16 different orders, recorded in the sanctuary. This includes over 10 species of migratory birds and over 9 species of endangered birds.
Reptiles
The sanctuary is home to over 26 species of reptiles belonging 11 families, of which 6 species are endangered, namely, Indian cobra, Russel’s viper, Indian Rock python, Indian rat snake, Chequered Keelback and Monitor lizard
Tiger Reserve
On September 13, 2010, the intention to create a Bor Tiger Reserve was announced by the then Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh. The Maharashtra Forest Department later decided that the Bor Wildlife Sanctuary is too small to be declared as a tiger reserve.
"It is not practical to declare Bor a reserve. It is well connected to Pench Tiger Reserve and wildlife sanctuary adjoining Pench, and is also a wildlife corridor. All this area will now be part of Pench," said S.K. Khetarpal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests ( PCCF) for Wildlife, Maharashtra.
Bor sanctuary will now be extended to 120.39 km2 (46.48 sq mi). It will include the existing sanctuary area of 59.70 km2 (23.05 sq mi) and adjoining 12.24 km2 (4.73 sq mi) from Nagpur and 48.46 km2 (18.71 sq mi) from Wardha division. The expanded 120.39 km2 (46.48 sq mi) Bor will be a 'satellite' core of the 257.23 km2 (99.32 sq mi) Pench along with 172.86 km2 (66.74 sq mi) Mansingdeo sanctuary. If these three areas are fully consolidated, Pench will then become 550.47 km2 (212.54 sq mi), a 2.14 times increase in area.
The Bor sanctuary is an important satellite area which has the potential to serve as a stepping stone for tigers dispersing from the source area of Pench
How to Reach :
The best time to visit is in April and May. Sanctuary is closed on mondays.
Traveling on the Wardha-Nagpur roadMSH3, one must turn north at Seloo for Hingi and then to the visitor center at Bor Dam.
The nearest bus station is Hingni 5 km (3.1 mi) from the sanctuary.
The nearest railway station is at Wardha about 35 km (22 mi) away.
The nearest airport is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at Nagpur 80 km (50 mi)away.
Promotion of wildlife tourism was planned in 2002 for Bhor Dam, on the outskirts of Bhor Wildlife Sanctuary at the the project cost of Rs 62 lakh. The MTDC Resort now offers 10 double-bed rooms, 3 dormitories, and restaurant facilities
Related Link
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary | Bor Wildlife Sanctuary | Karnala Bird Sanctuary | Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary | Mayani Bird Sanctuary | Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary | Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary | Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary | Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary | Sahayadri Tiger Reserve | Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project
