Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife refuge in Thane district, India
Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife refuge in Thane district, Maharashtra, covered largely by deciduous forest and home to three natural lakes. These lakes serve as a primary drinking water source for Mumbai and nearby towns.
The sanctuary was established in 1970 by the Maharashtra State Forest Department to protect the region's native plants and animals. It was part of a broader effort to preserve the forests along the Western Ghats during that era.
Local communities living in nearby villages have maintained traditional lifestyles around this sanctuary for generations. Sacred sites such as Mahuli Fort and Tilsa Temple remain central to local spiritual life and customs.
The closest railway station is Shahapur, from where bus connections run toward the sanctuary. The dry season generally offers better trails and clearer visibility for spotting wildlife.
The forest owlet, one of the rarest owls in India, lives in these woods and is easy to miss even on a slow walk through the trees. The same forest also shelters leopards and sloth bears, which tend to stay out of sight during the day.
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