One man’s wisdom and foresight led to the development of this manmade forest spread over 10 sq km. Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is the brainchild of Mr D M Mohite, a freedom fighter and journalist from Karad. After a visit to Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary (now a tiger reserve) near Nagpur, Mohite thought, “Why not make a similar one near Karad?” He was able to convince the then political leadership about this idea. Thus, wasteland was painstakingly converted into a lush landscape in 1971. Around 1984, 15 spotted deers were introduced into this Greenland. Sambhars, cheetals, and more herbivorous animals were introduced later. In 1994, Sagareshwar was officially declared a wildlife sanctuary and it now comes under Kolhapur Wildlife division.

Won’t the absence of a big cat species lead to unchecked increase in the number of herbivores? The forest guard and our guide Mr Mahesh Gawde told that the authorities were thinking about this, but is kept on hold as the terrain is not suitable for tigers, leopards, etc.

Mahesh directed the Cedia along the forest paths and was a little disappointed that we didn’t spend much time in the sanctuary.  We promised to come back and camp inside the forest for two days.

Our Cedia Sports on its first forest trail.