Wednesday 28 August 2013

The forests and sanctuaries of Karnataka

Many visitors to the blog and friends have asked us to give us a tabular post on the many wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka, the area in which they are situated and the best season to visit them.
The Forest Department has a list of forests, reserves, sanctuaries and biospheres. Bookings can be made at the Aranya Bhavan in Malleswaram, Bangalore, and also at Jungle Lodges and Resorts on MG Road and Khanija Bhavan office at Race Course Road.
If you are visiting forests, prior permission is necessary and it is best to take along guides if you are going for a trek or a safari. Now is the best time to visit the jungles as the forests will be lush green and the climate pleasant.
Summers can get pretty uncomfortable though that would be the best season to see almost all the wildlife. Barring the lion, giraffe and species native to Australia and New Zealand such as Ostrich, Kiwi and Chinese such as Pandas, the forests in Karnataka are home to a wide variety of animals, including elephants, tigers, dholes, hyneas, wolf, fox, jackal, snakes, bear, boar and what not.
So here goes the list and it is reproduced from the website of the Karnataka Forest Department. All credit goes to the department and we are just reproducing them for the benefit of readers and visitors.          





Karnataka has long history of efficient management of Forestry and Wildlife. The total geographical area in the State is 1,91,791 sq. kms out of which the forest area is about 43,356.95 sq. kms which constitutes about 22.6% . The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963 and Rules 1969 regulate working in the forest areas. The State has 5 National Parks and 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries covering an area of 6576.76 sq. kms. which forms nearly 15.17% of the total forest area as protected area.
Wildlife (Protection) Act was enacted during 1972 by Government of India to provide for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country. The elephant population in India is around 25,000 of which the estimated population in Karnataka is around 5590(Census 2010), which constitutes about 22% of the total population.





Forest occupancy of Tigers, Co-predators, Prey and population estimates of tigers.


State
    Tiger    (sq km)
Leopard (sq km)
Dhole (sq km)
Bear (sq km)
Chital (sq km)
Wild Pig (sq km)
Sambar (sq km)
Tiger numbers
Karnataka
18715
20506
15862
20749
42349
21999
43412
290
Estimation of lower limit for tiger population - 241
Estimation of upper limit for tiger population - 339 

*Source: Wildlife Institute of India Report 2008.











Name of the National Parks
Area (sq.km)
Nearest Dist. HQ
Season to Visit
Anshi National Park
417.34
Karwar 60
Bangalore 580
Nov-Jun
Bandipur National Park
872.24
Chamarajnagar 52
Bangalore 218
Jun-Oct
Bannerghatta National Park
260.51
Bangalore-22.0
All Seasons
Kudremukha National Park
600.57
Udupi 90
Bangalore 263
Dec-May
Nagarahole National Park
643.39
Mysore 120
Bangalore 240
Sept.-Mar








Name of the Sanctuary
Area (sq.km)
Nearest Dist. HQ
Season to Visit
Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary
0.84
Mandya 90
Bangalore 112
All Seasons
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary
13.50
Mysore 28
Bangalore 170
Dec-Feb
Attiveri Bird Sanctuary
2.23
Karwar 85
Bangalore 400
Oct.-Dec
BRT Wildlife Sanctuary
539.52
Chamarajnagar 35
Bangalore 234
Oct-May
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
500.16
Chickmagalur 76
Bangalore 257
Sept.- Mar
Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
181.29
Madikeri 50
Bangalore 250
Jan-Mar
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
1027.53
Ramnagar 30
Bangalore 87
May-Nov
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
886.41
Dharwad 67
Bangalore 482
Sep.-May
Doraji Bear Sanctuary
82.72
Bellary 41
Bangalore 350
Sep-Jan
Ghataprabha Wildlife Sanctuary
29.78
Belgaum 82
Bangalore 505
Oct.-Dec
Gudavi Bird Sanctuary
0.73
Shimoga 112
Bangalore 377
Jun.-Nov
Melukote Wildlife Sanctuary
49.82
Mandya 40
Bangalore 140
Oct-Apr.
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
370.37
Udupi 62
Bangalore 430
Nov.-Apr.
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary
30.32
Mysore 57
Bangalore 202
Oct-Apr.
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
102.59
Madikeri 12
Bangalore 250
Jan.-Mar
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
0.67
Mysore 16
Bangalore 125
All Seasons
Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary
119.00
Haveri 32
Bangalore 301
May – Jan
Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary
431.23
Talguppa-6.5
Mangalore 206.5
Nov-May
Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary
395.60
Shimoga 1
Bangalore 270
Nov.-May
Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
314.25
Udupi 47
Bangalore 373
Nov.-Apr.
Thalakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary
105.59
Madikeri 38
Bangalore 290
May-Jun
Oct-Jan
Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
190.42
Belgaum
Nov-Jun
Rangayyanadurga Four-horned antelope Sanctuary
77.23
-
-
Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary
134.88
-
-
Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary
3.46
-
-








Name of the Reserve
Area (sq. kms)
Year of Establishment
Bankapura Peacock Conservation Reserve
0.56
2006
Mydhanahalli(Jayamangali) Black Buck Conservation Reserve
3.23
2007
Basur Amruth Mahal Kaval Conservation Reserve
7.36
2011
Hornbill Conservation Reserve
52.5
2011
Aghanashini Conservation Reserve
299.52
2011
Bedthi Conservation Reserve
57.3
2011
Shalmale Riparian Bio-system Conservation Reserve
4.89
2012
Kokkare Bellur Community Reserve
3.12
2007





Name of the Tiger Reserve
Area (sq. kms)
Year of Establishment
Bandipur
870
1973
Bhadra
492
1998
Nagarahole
643
2000
Dandeli-Anshi
475
2006
BRT
539.52
2011








Name of the Reserve
Area (Sq.kms)
Year of Establihsment
Nilgiri
2053.27
1986




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