The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Canacona taluka (or South Goa district) of Goa, in India.

The best time to visit the sanctuary is from October to December. The sanctuary supports diverse life forms. It is noted for its animal and plant biodiversity.

What kind of animals can you see in Cotigao?

The lesser-known animals in the sanctuary include the Flying Squirrel, Slender Loris, Indian Pangolin, Mouse Deer, Four-horned Antelope, Malabar Pit Viper, Hump-Nosed Pit Viper, White-bellied Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Speckled Piculet, Malayan Bittern, Draco or Flying Lizard, Golden-back Gliding Snake and Malabar Tree Toad.

Tourism Information and Attractions

Nature Trails 

The sanctuary has eight well laid out nature trails traversing it. The length of the nature trails ranges from 500 meters to 5 kilometers. There are six watchtowers in the sanctuary. Also there is one 'tree top' watchtower which is situated about 20 meters high on a tree overlooking a waterhole.

Eco-Tourism Complex

Both the Gal and Talpona rivers of Canacona originate from the sanctuary. At the entrance to the sanctuary there is an ecotourism complex which houses the nature interpretation centre, cottages, toilets, library, reception area and rescue centre, canteen and Range Forest Office. The sanctuary has been declared a plastic-free zone by the State Government and violators are prosecuted with a fine. 
                                                                                                          Rubber Plantations

There are tribal (Velip) hamlets in and around the sanctuary. The Velip tribals are very friendly people and one can interact with them during the visit to discover their lifestyle and culture. There is also a rubber plantation within the sanctuary boundary limits where the processing of rubber is demonstrated.

Reaching Cotigao

Any of the buses running south on NH-17 to Karwar via Chaudi will drop one within 2-km of the gates. However, to explore the inner reaches of the sanctuary, one really needs one's own transport.

Written permission for an overnight stay, either in the watchtower or the forest department's small rest house must be obtained from the Deputy Conservator Of Forests, 3rd Floor, Junta House, Panaji, as far in advance of one's visit as possible.

The sanctuary is open from 7am till 5.30pm for visitors.

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