About: Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled 90 km northeast of Mumbai, finds its home in the foothills of the Sahyadris, a part of the Western Ghats. It spans across Wada, Shahapur, and Mokhada talukas within the Thane district. The sanctuary derives its name from the Tansa River, which gracefully divides it into two distinct parts. It serves as the primary catchment area for Tansa Lake, encompassing the surrounding forests of Khardi, Vaitarna, Wada, and Shahapur ranges. Tansa Dam is Mumbaikar’s source of water.

The sanctuary’s terrain predominantly features hills, with Suryamal Hill in Palghar district to the northeast and Mahuli Hill in Thane district at its southern extremity. Notably, in 1986, local tribals and Forest Department personnel reported two tiger sightings near Suryamal, underscoring the sanctuary’s ecological significance. The Tansa forest, an integral part of the northern Western Ghats, stands as a treasure trove of biodiversity, with the towering Teak Tectona grandis as its dominant tree species. Notably, this sanctuary is home to the elusive Forest Owlet, a species that has eluded discovery for over seven decades. Previously considered extinct, it was later found in the Melghat tiger reserve in the late 1990s. In Tansa, this remarkable bird debuted in 2014, offering birdwatchers a unique opportunity to photograph this enigmatic species.