We’re certain some of our readers will have their own ‘wild’ stories from Alibaug, but surely none of them come close to Dr Prasad Dabholkar’s. In 2024, his team spotted a pair of shining eyes atop a tree in the Kankeshwar Hill in Alibaug. Upon closer examination, they learnt it was the Rusty Spotted Cat aka one of India’s smallest felines. It was the first documented sighting in the region, and reinforced Dabholkar’s view that the town is more than a tourist’s paradise.

Giri’s Gecko, Sahyadri Vine Snake and Bamboo Pit Viper. PICS COURTESY/DR PRASAD DABHOLKAR; wild wentures