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GENERAL
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WILD ANIMALS
Wild life in Sangli district is confined only in the densely forest clad areas in the western portion of the Shirala mahal. The prominent among the wild animals are the bison, panther, sambar, bear, wild boar, hyaena, deer, fox and hare.
Of the above, bisons, bears and wild boars are confined to semi-evergreen and evergreen forests of Rundhiv plateau and slopes. Panther, sambar and deer are occasionally met within the forests of Bilashi and Charan. Fox and hare are very common throughout the district. These animals usually take shelter in the fields and in forests along nalas and river banks.
Panther.
The panther (Panthera pardus M. Bibtya Vagh) seems to have almost vanished from the area. Human beings are generally not molested and no man-eaters have been recorded in the recent past. Sambars, cheetah, etc., form the natural food of the panthers. They also attack cattle, particularly calves.
Bear.
Bear (Asval) is usually found in the dense forests. It lives in hollows in rocks or in ravines and subsists on roots and fruits of forest trees. It seldom attacks a human being unless provoked and does little injury to cattle.
Hyaena.
The striped hyaena (Hyaena striata, M. Taras) usually seeks shelter in the natural holes or caves during daytime and moves about during night in search of carcasses.
Boar.
The wild boar (Sus indicus, M. Dukkar) is found in the dense forests of the district.
Hare and Deer.
The hare (Lepus nigricollis, M. Sasa) and deer are found in the scrub jungles. Their number has considerably diminished due to the wanton hunting by the local population. Sambar (Rusa umicolor kerr) is met within the forests of Bilashi and Charan.
Bison.
The guar or the Indian bison (Bibos gaurus, M. Gava) is the largest of all the bovines. It is found in the Rundhiv plateau.
Fox.
The Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis, M. Kolha) is found
throughout the district both in the open country and in the forests.
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