More than 9K visit Karnala sanctuary

NAVI MUMBAI: More than 9,000 tourists visited the Karnala bird sanctuary in Panvel within a month after it was thrown open to the tourists despite trains and buses not operational for the common people.

The sanctuary, which saw close to 10,000 visitors per month before the pandemic, has now become the much soughtout destination due to its proximity to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad.

After remaining shut for nearly eight months, the sanctuary was reopened on November 12. Since then, the sanctuary has received an overwhelming response. Tourists choose to visit in their private vehicles as trains are not operational for the common man.

The number of tourists noticeably goes up on Saturdays and Sundays. Pradeep Chavan, range forest officer of the bird sanctuary, said, “We believe that after staying at home for a long time, people want to spend some time amidst nature, and that too without travelling much. People from Mumbai and its peripheries can come to this bird sanctuary and return in a day. Thus, it has become an ideal destination.

“Normally, around 10,000 tourists visit the sanctuary in a month during this time of the year. Since the local trains are not for all, and also there are several other restrictions, 9,084 is a huge number of us,” he said.

The Karnala bird sanctuary is located along the Mumbai-Goa highway, around 10km away from Panvel city. According to the authorities, around 134 species of birds including many

migratory ones are present in the sanctuary. Three rare birds – Ashy Minivet, three-toed kingfisher and Malabar Trogon – are spotted here.

Chavan said, “We are following all safety and hygiene measures at the sanctuary as directed

by the government. Our officials are checking the body temperature of the tourists before allowing them in. We have kept hand sanitizer at the main entrance and using it is compulsory for all. No one is allowed inside the sanctuary without a mask.”

HT PHOTO Visitors at Karnala bird sanctuary on Friday.