SGNP, located near Borivali in Mumbai, covers 103 sq km and features rich biodiversity, including tigers, deer, and 251 bird species. The park houses historic Kanheri Caves and artificial lakes like Tulsi and Vihar, and supports various flora such as teak, acacia, and kadamba.
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A fire broke out just outside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai.
SGNP, formerly Borivali National Park, is a large protected area near Borivali in northern Mumbai.
It is located partly in the Thane District and the suburbs of the Mumbai District of Maharashtra. It covers a vast area of 103 square kilometers, making it one of the largest parks in the city.
The park is known for its dense forests, huge birds, butterflies and a small population of tigers.
The Kanheri Caves at the park's center were an important Buddhist learning center and pilgrimage site carved by Buddhist monks between the 9th and 1st centuries BC.
Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, which means "black mountain".
They were carved out of a massive basalt rock outcrop.
In addition, the park has two artificial lakes, Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake, a Deer Sanctuary, a Lion Safari, and a Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi.
Flora: Kadamba, Teak, Karanj, Shisham, and Acacia species, Ziziphus, euphorbias etc. are located in this national park.
Fauna:
Fauna of the park includes Mongoose, Four-horned Antelope, Sambar, Atlas Moth, Wildebeest, Languor, Monkey, Magar and Panthers.
The park also boasts 251 species of birds and a large number of butterflies.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements regarding Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP):
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: a Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located in Maharashtra and is considered one of the most visited national parks globally, particularly due to its proximity to Mumbai. Statement 2 is correct: The park is home to the endangered lion-tailed macaque and features several Buddhist caves such as the Kanheri Caves. Statement 3 is incorrect: SGNP is located on the outskirts of Mumbai, not entirely within the city limits. It is not part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, which primarily covers areas further south. |
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