Pali Hill - Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna

Pali Hill boasts of an expanse of trees forming arches over the roads. Originally an area of mildly cultivated orchards, fields and untamed forests, over the period of forty years it has been deforested and made suitable for large scale residential habitation. A few of those giant trees remain to this day in building compounds, bungalow gardens and on the roads. The most widely seen tree is the Gulmohar tree. Also abundant are large (and rare in Mumbai) Banyan trees, Peepul trees, Mango trees, Ashoka trees, Wild Almond trees, Wild Neem trees as well as a variety of shrubs, grasses, bamboos and trees like those of the Papaya, Jackfruit, Custard-apple, and Guava to name a few.

Flowering shrubs too are cultivated and sometimes grow by themselves. Most abundant are Bougainvillae, Jasmines, Birds of Paradise flowers and other wild, indigenous varieties.

Pali Hill is frequented by a myriad of birds, most of them migratory and present during different seasons. Although the true inhabitants are sparrows, koyals, cuckoos, wrens, pigeons, crows and ravens; rare birds (from other parts of Mumbai or India) are also seen here. The school Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls High School, with its sprawling grounds and forestry sees egrets, storks, owls & other rare birds. Besides, Ashy Dorus, Kites, Kestrels, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers as well as Sea Gulls and Kingfishers (both - the Small Blue Kingfisher as well as the more colourful variant) are also seen. One of India's greatest orinthologists, Salim Ali, was known to walk around Pali Hill with his binoculars and a notebook taking notes and listening to or making bird calls.

Mammals such as dogs (from street strays to pedigrees), cats & small bats are present in abundance.