2 Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary has an area of 131 km2 (51 sq mi) and is a part of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri Ranges), which itself is recognised as one of the 12 biodiversity hotspots of the world.

In Ahupe - a tribal (Mahadev Koli) village's sacred grove in the sanctuary, a climber Khombhal - Xantolis tomentosa was found to be 800–1000 years old in 1984.

[5] The sanctuary harbours large diversity of endemic & specialised flora and fauna.

Important mammals reported from the sanctuary are carnivores like Leopard Panthera pardus, and Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Wildboar (Sus scrofa), Common Langur (Semnopithecus entellus), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) and the Mouse Deer (Moschiola meminna).

[6] During the monsoon (rainy season), various species of mosses and epiphytes including bioluminescent fungi can be seen on the trees.