Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bondla wildlife sanctuary is about 50 Kms from Panaji and 38 Kms from Margao and 20 Kms east of Ponda. It is more of a jungle resort with tourist cottages available on site 38 kms from Margao is the smaller of the three wildlife sanctuaries of Goa - the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. More than a sanctuary, it is an ideal jungle resort. Its mini zoo, sprawling deer park in natural habitat, botanical and rose gardens attract people throughout the year.

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is a picturesque location with a beautiful landscape and and lush greenery all around. This place provides a very soothing natural environment to its inhabitants. The sanctuary provides habitat to a large number of wild animals and a variety of bird species. Some of the occupants here are panthers, Asiatic lions, a variety of deer, crocodiles, snakes, wild cats, etc. Birds like Kingfishers, Hornbills, Yellow Bulbul, Woodpeckers, etc., are also sighted here. It's a habitat to Deers, Bisons, Leopards, Cobras, Lions and more. It also houses over a 100 species of birds, and has a Nature Education Centre in the precincts. You can also go on a wildlife safari in the sanctuary. It also has some great walking trails, a rose garden and a botanical garden to satiate the nature enthusiast in you. Bondla also boasts of having Goa's only zoo, even though it is a small one. The variety of animals here includes asiatic lion, gaurm sambar, panthers, sloth bears and a lot of snakes.

The area is covered with Moist Deciduous Forests, with small patches of Evergreens and Canes along the nullahs. The State Tree Terninalia crenulata (Matti) and Rosewood are common here. Others are Lagerstroemia (Naked Maiden of the Forest / Nano), Kindall, Jamba, Mimusops, Saraca indica etc. The thorny bamboo Bambusa arundinacea and Giant Lianas (Entada) abound.