Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary (18127)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 14.9845, Longitude: 74.2037
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 00
Area of KBA (km2): 94.46768
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Canacona taluka, is 10 km southeast of Chaudi. The IBA lies partly in the Western Ghats. It was established in 1969 to protect a remote and vulnerable area of forest lining the Goa-Karnataka interstate border. The terrain is hilly and includes undulating uplands. Many small rivulets flow through the Sanctuary in the monsoon, but dry up in summer. The ancient Jeevottam Partagal Math, noted for Vedic studies, lies in the vicinity of the Sanctuary. The main vegetation types are West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forest, West Coast Semi-Evergreen Forest, and Moist Deciduous Forest. The evergreen forests are mainly present on higher altitudes and on riversides.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Western Ghats Hotspot (2007). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: Not much is known of the bird life of Cotigao but Anil Pinto (pers. comm. 2002) has reported Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii, a globally threatened species (BirdLife International 2001). The site lies in the Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area (EBA 123) in which Stattersfield et al. (1998) have listed 16 species as Restricted Range. Six have been seen till now, but more are likely to be found once detailed studies are conducted. Of the 15 Biome-10 species (BirdLife International, undated), 12 are reported from Cotigao. Of the remaining three, the Ceylon Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger is likely to occur in the thick Tropical Evergreen Forest of the IBA, although it has not been listed by Lainer (1999) or Grubh and Ali (1976). The Indian Ediblenest Swiftlet Collocalia unicolor “may be encountered anywhere in Goa, but most frequently in c. 5 km deep strip along the coast” (Lainer 1999). It is also likely to occur in Cotigao, although it has not been reported from there. The Hill Swallow Hirundo domicola, (called Pacific Swallow H. tahitica by Grimmett et al. 1999), a bird of the southern Western Ghats, is reported as stray in Goa (Lainer 1999 calls it House Swallow). OTHER KEY FAUNA: The Leopard Panthera pardus is the apex predator in this small Sanctuary, mainly on Sambar Cervus unicolor, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and Mouse Deer Moschiola meminna. Gaur Bos frontalis is also found, but an adult is too large a prey for a leopard. The Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista is present. Slender Loris Loris tardigradus, and Pangolin Manis crassicaudata are present but difficult to see due to their nocturnal habit. Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica and Golden Jackal Canis aureus are the smaller predators. Cotigao has many species of interesting reptiles, including King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah, but not much is known about them. Similarly, the freshwater fish have not been adequately surveyed.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Encroachment; Grazing. Despite the fact that Cotigao is a fully notified wildlife sanctuary, grazing is still a problem. Some encroachment has also taken place at the fringes, perhaps with the connivance of the Forest Department.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. BirdLife International (undated) Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Asia: Project briefing book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K., unpublished. Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp (1999) Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Grubh, R. B. and S. Ali (1976) Birds of Goa. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 73(1): 42-58. Lainer, H. (1999) The Birds of Goa. Pt . I & II. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 96(2): 203-220, 96(3): 405-423. Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.
Contributors: Key contributor: Heinz Lainer.