Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary
Pocharam Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary are spread over 130 sq km. It was a former hunting ground of the Nizams of Hyderabad. Established in the year 1952, the sanctuary gets its name from the Pocharam Lake formed after the construction of the Pocharam Dam on the Alair River, a tributary of the Manjira River.
The check dam is a wonderful site with water flowing freely throughout the monsoon. This is a nice place to relax and play in the water.
The sanctuary is the homeland of various species of animals and birds. Panthers, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Hyenas, and Jackals are the main attractions of the sanctuary. The river Manjira is the main river that adds life to the jungle. Crocodiles, freshwater turtles, Cobra, and Marsh can be located in this sanctuary.
The flora of the sanctuary makes the sanctuary livelier with green vegetation like Babul Prosopis, Pistia, Hydrilla, Eichornia, and Vallisneria. Nine small islands in the middle of the reservoir are the main breeding areas for birds, crocodiles, and turtles. Birds like Painted Storks, herons, Coots, Teals, Cormorants, Pochards, Black and White Ibises, Spoon Bills, and Open Billed Storks make their nests in these islands.
The Sanctuary still has an old watch tower. There is an Eco-Tourism center where visitors can see different species of Antelopes and Deer. Boating is available to take visitors around the sanctuary for bird watching. Binoculars and books on the identification of birds are also available.
