About Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary:
- It spans over the Western Ghats in Belgaum district of Karnataka.
- It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in December 2011.
- The sanctuary has been named after the Bhimgad Fort, constructed and commanded by Shivaji in the 17th century as a defence from Portuguese troops.
- It shares its boundary with the north of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, north-west of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, north of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and east of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
- BWS forms the headwaters of a number of rivers like Tillari, Malaprabha and Mhadei and several perennial streams.
- The forest is also famed for its Barapede caves which serve as the only known breeding area of a threatened species on the verge of extinction called Wroughton's free-tailed bat.
- Flora: It mainly comprises a combination of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and grasslands. It also hosts a number of medicinal plants.
- Fauna: It has a rich biodiversity and shelters animals like Elephants, King Cobras, Wild Dogs, Foxes, Chitals, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Leopards and Tigers.
