The Gazetteers Department

THE WILD LIFE OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT is mainly confined to the hilly region of the Sahyadris and its foot hills. It is essentially similar to that prevailing in the Deccan plateau generally. During the ex-Kolhapur State regime, the position of wild life was very safe indeed. The Chhatrapati Maharaja of Kolhapur and his feudatory Jahagirdars were keen naturalists, interested in the preservation of wild life. Shooting of wild life was the exclusive sport of the royal family, and illicit shooting or poaching was crushed with an iron hand. As a result of strict protection to wild life they were found in fairly large number in the forest areas of the Kolhapur district. However, the merger of the State with Bombay State, wild life has dwindled down considerably. The increase in population and consequent indiscriminate cutting of forest for extension of cultivation under the Grow More Food Campaign, the development of roads and fast-moving vehicles, the illicit shooting and poaching for food and profit by people possessing crop protection guns, both in and out of season, and without reference to sex or age, and trapping and snaring by professional hunting tribes, have all contributed to wholesale destruction of wild life. The Black-buck has almost come on the verge of extinction. Government have realised the urgent need for protecting the wild denizens of the forest and the passing of the Bombay Wild Animals and Wild Birds Protection Act (IV of 1951) is a great step towards the preservation of wild life.

Mammals of Beasts of prey.

The most prominent amongst mammals of beasts of prey are the Tiger (Panthera tigris Linn), Patait Vagh, Panther or Leopard (Panthera pardus Linn)-M. Dahanya Vagh or Biblya Vagh.

Tigers were once in plenty in the hill forests of the Sahyadris. But now they are rare and met with only in the denser forests of the following places: -

Radhanagari Range:

Patyacha Dang, Kala Dang, Surangi, Rametha.

Bavada Range:

Karul, Bavade Sadure.

Ajra Range:

Suleran, Gavse.

Human beings are as a rule unmolested, and no man-eaters have been recorded in the recent past. However, due to extermination of sambhars, cheetals, etc., which form their natural food, tigers are reported to have become cattle lifters. Leopards are comparatively rare but panthers are less intolerant of heat and are found in the thick evergreen to semi-evergreen hill forests of the district. Wild boar and porcupines form their natural food. Village dogs, goats and donkeys are also taken occasionally. The leopard is perhaps the most effective natural check against the wild pig, whose ravages in paddy and sugarcane fields are notorious and hence it may be considered a great friend of the agriculturists.

Among the leopards and panthers, several varieties are distinguished locally. ' Dahanya Vagh' the spotted tiger, which is very rarely found now, is dreaded more than the tiger. 'Biblya Vagh' is said to be of three kinds, two large, viz., Karanjya and Tendva and one small, viz., Khandli or Biblya.

The general distribution of panthers or leopards in the district is as under: -

Panhala Range:

Western strip of the Panhala range about 10 miles in width.

Radhanagari Range:

Patyacha Dang, Kaladang, Surangi and Rametha.

Ajra Range:

Suleran, Savse and Awandi.

Bavada Range:

Karul, Bavada and Sadure.

The serious encroachment of cultivation into the natural habitat of panthers and leopards has been mainly responsible for reducing their incidence considerably. The hunting leopard or the chita is now extinct, as is the case in Central India, where it was once found in plenty.

Cats.

Among the wild cats felis chaus (M. Ran manjar) occurs to a considerable extent. It lives in open forests and shrub jungle and is a serious pest of the poultry. The other two varieties of cats live in thick forests but are comparatively rare, viz., paradoxcerus musanga (M. Kavali manjar) and Viverricula indica (M. Javadi manjar or the small Indian civet cat). The civet cat is valued for its civet which, in small dosage, is used in perfumery and medicine.

Bears.

The Sloth Bear (Melursus ursiners M. Asval) is restricted to the well-wooded hilly portions of the Ghat area. During the day, it lives in hollows in rocks or in ravines and at night times comes down to the plains in search of honey combs and Mahua flowers, of which it is very fond. It lives on roots and fruits of forest trees and feeds on ants and insects. It seldom attacks man unprovoked and does little injury to cattle.

Dog tribe.

Of the Dog tribe the principal representatives are: -

(1) The striped Hyaena (Hyana striata-M. Taras) is fairly common in all hills and forests. It generally seeks shelter in natural holes or caves during day time, and moves about during night time in search of animal carcasses. It is a useful scavenger.

(2) The wolf (Ganis lupus-M. Landaga) is generally found in plains but its number has considerably diminished. It lifts sheep and goats at night.

(3) The jackal (Canis aureus-M. Kolha) is found in abundance in the plains. It is a useful scavenger but at the same time it is harmful to poultry, sugarcane and groundnut.

(4) The Indian Fox (Canis aureus-M. Kolha) is common in the open country in the eastern portion of the district. It is a useful animal to the agriculturists in that it lives chiefly on field rats, mice, reptiles and insects. The jackals and foxes in the small hill round about Kolhapur give an excellent coursing, which is a favourite amusement among the Maratha aristrocracy.

(5) The Wild dog (Cuon alpinus-M. Kolsunda) is highly destructive of sambhar and other game. They usually hunt in packs of 20 to 25. Even the tiger and panthers get scared by the presence of wild dogs.

Bats.

Among the bats the Flying Fox (Peteropus giganteus-M. Waghul) is quite common. They cause great damage to orchards, especially as they raid, usually after sunset, in large numbers.

Rodents.

Among the rodents, the Indian porcupine (Hystrix lencura, Gray and Hard wicke M. Salindar) is very common. It lives in burrows dug in the ground or rocky hill sides and is very harmful to agriculture as well as to forest plantations. It eats up all the seed sown and also gnaws and uproots seedlings to eat the eflshy cotyledons.

The Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) is very attractive due to its bright reddish brown colour. It is found rarely in the Ghat forests.

The Five striped squirrel (Funambulus pennanti-M. Khar) is usually found in the neighbourhood of habitations. It is highly destructive of forest seeds, both in nurseries and in plantations.

Hare.

The Hare (Lepus nigricallis-M. Sasa) is found in the scrub jungle. Due to their unregulated hunting and snaring by the local tribes, their number has depleted considerably.

Deer.

The deer family is perhaps the worst affected by the illicit shooting and poaching. It needs complete protection, at least for some years to come. At present they are found only in the interior forests in the Sahyadris.

The Sambhar (Rusa aristotelis-M. Sambhar) is restricted to the hilly portions. They are mainly found in the forests of the following places: -

Bavada Range:

Palsambe, Saitawade, Aslaj.

Ajra Range:

Latgaon, Haloli, Gavse.

Radhanagari Range:

Patyacha Dang, Kaladang, Surangi, Rametha.

Karvir Range:

Mhasurli.

The spotted deer (Axis maculatus-M. Cheetal) prefers plains and the foot-hills of forests in the neighbourhood of cultivation. Their number has considerably dwindled. They mainly occur in Pombare forests of Panhala Range and the Latgaon, Haloli, and Gawase forests of Ajra Range. It is the fairest of India's deer. " There is no more beautiful sight in creation than a Chital stag in sun-flecked dell ". [ Robert A. Stemdale, Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Cevlon, pp. 506-507.]

The Barking deer (Muntiacus muntijakay-M. Bhekar) is also met with in small numbers, in forests of Karvir, Ajra and Radhanagari Ranges.

Among the antelopes, mention may be made of the Black-buck (Antilope cervicapra-M. Kalvita). This is an inhabitant of the open shrub and plain grassy areas in the neighbourhood of cultivation. At one time they used to move in large herds in open parts of Raibag and Shirol. At present, it has become almost extinct due to indiscriminate shooting by illegal methods, without regard to age or sex.

The Mouse deer (Meminna indica-M. Pisora) is only occasionally found in the forests of Sahyadris.

Bison.

Gour or the Indian Bison (Gavcecus gaurus-M. Gau) is the largest of all existing bovines. The Marathas consider bison a bull and generally do not shoot it. Because of this superstition, the bisons have received natural protection and are found in fairly large numbers especially in the Radhanagari Range. They occur principally in the following places: -

Radhanagari Range:

Patyacha Dang, Kala Dang, Surangi, Rametha.

Panhala Range:

Kolik, Barki, Gothane, Padsali, Kode Bk., Asandoli, Pombare, Anaskura forests.

Bavada Range:

Kitawade jungle area (Gangotri site).

Of the smaller animals allied to both cat and dog, the common Mongoose (Herpestes Edkardsii-M.. Mungusa) deserves mention. It is destructive to snakes, both poisonous and non-poisonous, and sometimes becomes a serious threat to poultry because of its mass-slaughtering propensities.

Boars.

The Wild Boar (Sus indicus-M. Dukar) occurs in abundance in all the hill forests of the district. They usually come out at night in large herds, and cause wholesale destruction of agricultural crop. It is the greatest enemy of the agriculturists, to whom gun licences are given liberally for crop protection. Boar hunting is favourite sport among the Marathas.

Monkeys.

Monkeys, both ' makads' and ' vanars' are found all over the district. The 'vanar', the larger one generally frequents near about villages, whereas the ' makad' is generally seen in the interior forests. Due to large-scale destruction of forests, the monkeys have been forced to make depredations on gardens and orchards and do considerable damage. Out of respect for Hanuman, the monkey God, the Hindus, as a rule, do not shoot monkeys.

Birds.

Most of the birds given by Shri Salim Ali in his catalogue on the Birds of Deccan are found in Kolhapur.

The principal game birds of the district are: -

(i) Green Pigeons (M. Harial).

(ii) Pigeons (M. Parwa), especially the green rock pigeon commonly inhabiting the hill forts.

(iii) Grey Partridge (M. Titur or Citur).

The Grey Jungle Fowl (M. Ran Kombada) is found only in the interior thick forest areas. The Peafowl (M. Mor or Landor) has become comparatively very rare.

The Great Indian Bustard (M. Hum, Kardhonk) and the Lesser Florican (M. Canya Mor), which live in open shrub areas, have become rare due to indiscriminate snaring and netting by the professional tribes.

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