Why you should go on this herp count walk and explore Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary

Are you a beach person or a forest person Truth be told it hardly matters when yoursquore in Phansad a treasure trove of flora fauna and pictureperfect green landscapes hidden in plain sight along the coastline of Murud in Raigad district ldquoItrsquos Maharashtrarsquos only wildlife sanctuary that can boast of both an evergreen forest and a coastline You can imagine the diversity it lends to the wildlife in the areardquo reveals Nikhil Bhopale founder Green Works Trust As Bhopale gears for the sanctuaryrsquos first ever herp amphibians and reptiles count in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department and SBI Foundation we get a peek into what one can expectAmboli bush frogldquoMurud hosts lakhs of tourists a year The wildlife sanctuary however doesnrsquot make it to most of these itineraries Even if it did the sanctuary might not be equipped to educate themrdquo admits Bhopale who has worked as a conservationist in the area for over two decades The first bird count for instance was conducted as late as 2021 ldquoThe bird counts filled a part of the knowledge gap that existed However during monsoons we are left with no choice but to halt operations Thatrsquos when we thought of a herp countrdquo he recallsNikhil BhopaleThe upcoming count will witness more than 150 citizens walk along predetermined paths to log their observations ldquoWe divide the total area of the forest into hectares and set out in groups Once the data comes in we get a fair idea of the density of herp populationrdquo he explains While you donrsquot have to be a seasoned zoologist to tag along Bhopale recommends some basic knowledge of herps and trekking as a prerequisite to joining the team that will cover 25 km while camping in tents and dormitories in the neighbouring SupegaonNorthern Western Ghats vine snake PICS COURTESYKUNAL SALUNKHEWe learn that the reptiles that one can expect to spot during the count include the Deccan ground gecko Northern Western Ghats vine snake and the common sand boa ldquoThe unique topology of the sanctuary is marked by its lateritic plateaus These plateaus act as optimal microhabitats for amphibiansrdquo he reveals Some common amphibian sightings include species such as the skittering frog and the Amboli bush frogSkittering frog PICS COURTESYPranav Bagwe Nikhil BhopaleWhile the founderrsquos journey began with birds and eventually led him to herps when nature strikes things are quite the opposite ldquoHerps are extremely vulnerable to environmental change their populations are the first to take a hit The birds bear the brunt nextrdquo he revealsTo that end the count will also assist the Maharashtra Forest Department frame its official wildlife management plan ldquoThe gap in data has not only hampered tourism but also conservation plans For instance a visitor might consider repeated sightings of a species as a green flag but a zoologist at the department will recognise this as a possibility that another species in the habitat might be compromisedrdquo he elaboratesView from inside the sanctuaryWith the spotlight understandably on the novel initiative we learn that a lot more is simmering under the thick green cover at Phansad Bhopalersquos trust is working on a multipronged approach to put the region on the map ldquoEducation is our first priority We are reaching out to schools in Phansad to empower children belonging to the Katkari tribe with supplementary education about their natural heritage It is only through educating the new generation that we can hope for sustainable growth in Phansadrdquo he concludesON June 21 to 23AGE GROUP 16 to 60 yearsMeeting point Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary Raigad details shared on registrationLOG ON TO greenworkstrust for all queriesENTRY Rs 100Finding Phansadgtgt Opened to the public in 1995 Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary spans nearly 69 sq km including extended areasgtgt Unofficial records suggest that the sanctuary is home to nearly 20 amphibian and 37 snake speciesgtgt The sanctuary encompasses diverse terrain such as vast grasslands thick forests and wetlandsHow to reachgtgt Train The nearest railway station is Roha Taxis are available for the 30km ride from Roha to Phansadgtgt Road State Transport buses ply from Mumbai to Alibaug the nearest town Hail an auto rickshaw or taxi for the 50km trip from Alibaug to Phansad