Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is the smallest sanctuary in India admeasuring a mere 5.5 sq. km and located at a distance of only 72 km from city centre. It is a mix of grassland and scrubland and is the ideal habitat to the Indian Gazelle (Chinkara).
It is important to understand that grasslands and scrublands are an important eco system by themselves and do not need conversion into forest or woodland eco system.
Grassland species evolve around two lines-either they perceive the threat from far and hide, or they flee. If grass is not short or there are too many trees these species find it difficult to escape.
Although traditional farming of jowar and bajra etc blended into grasslands, the present pattern of growing mostly sugarcane does not blend in because the grassland species find it difficult to escape.
We decided to leave Pune by 6.00 am but by the time we actually left it was 7.00. The road is pretty straight. We took the Pune Solapur highway and crossing Uruli, Yewat and and just a km after Kedgaon and about 59 kms from Pune we took the overbridge at Chouphula to turn to the right. This is an old highway with two way traffic flanked on both sides with ancient banyan trees. After driving on it for about 12 kms we reached a village called Supe, where we took a right for another 1.5 km till we could see the barrier leading into the sanctuary on the right. Driving at a normal pace we were there by around 8.40 am.
Please make sure to to pay the entry fees at the forest office. For 2 adults, a child, two cameras and the car we paid Rs. 290. The forest guards were courteous and showed us around to the tented accommodation they have for overnighters for which they charge Rs. 1000. They have 2 basic tents which are alright for a group of 3 each. They can arrange a cook for you if you inform them in advance or you can eat at the dhabas outside. Whilst we waited for our guide Raju (9764627176) we had a look around at the reception area where a lot of pictures of birds and animals from the sanctuary were displayed. I was pleasantly surprised to see pictures by fellow INW members Clement Francis and Vishwatej Pawar amongst others.
The sanctuary is a criss cross of mud roads and although it is not big enough to lose your way it can be pretty confusing! I do recommend you take a guide!
We were there just till post lunch and managed to see what we had come to see -the Chinkara.
The Chinkara or the Indian gazelle is a small antelope of slender build with a tawncoat. The horns of the male appear straight when seen from the front. In profile the horns of an adult male are S-shaped. Females also have horns, though they are much slenderer and smaller than those of males.
We never managed to see any any Hyena , Jackal or fox. Though we did see a Hyena's den and came back with the quill of a porcupine as a souvenir!