OUR LANDSCAPE

CHIKMAGALUR

Chikmagalur is a Coffee Growing District in the state of Karnataka, India, within the Western Ghats of the Country, a biodiversity hotspot recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The district comprises of many lofty mountains, forests and streams.

Chikmagalur district is blessed with natural beauty, bio-diverse landscapes, receives heavy rainfall of 3500-7500 mm annually, with mountains older than the Himalayas and has the Highest Peak of Karnataka, Mullayyangiri at an altitude of 6,317 feet above MSL (Mean Sea Level) in its midst.

The group has been working for more than 23 years to conserve this bio-diverse and rich wild habitat.

IMPORTANCE OF THE AREA

Five prominent rivers of Karnataka namely, the Tunga, Bhadra, Nethravathi, Hemavathi and Vedavathi take birth in Chikmagalur and have their vital catchment areas in the district. Numerous streams which feed lakes and tanks along with the rivers form the lifeline for millions of people and to the agricultural ecosystem in drier regions of Chikmagalur and other neighboring districts.

The two most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries, Bhadra Tiger Reserve and Kudremukh National Park are also situated in Chikmagalur. In total, the district has a forest cover of about 2,000 sq. km. These mountains and forests comprise of endemic habitat type ranging from evergreen forests in the valley (Shola forests) to grassland ecosystem in the higher reaches which are ideal to attract heavy rainfall and the raw dryland scrub jungles in the plains.

Bhadra Kudremukh Landscape has over 2,000 square kilometers of forest area typically of sensitive shola forests and grasslands. It also has about 5,000 square kilometers of adjoining coffee plantations, farms and villages, which act as a buffer and connect the forest area in a meaningful swath of land.

SPECIES DIVERSITY
  • Home to many charismatic wild animals like the Tiger, Elephant, Leopard and their prey species.
  • Ideal living and nesting habitat for several species of birds including birds of prey, endemic forest birds, migratory birds and grassland birds.
  • Crucial habitat for the movement of wildlife in the Central Western Ghats region.

Bhadra supports more than 120 plant species.

A typical 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of tropical dry deciduous forest has 46 species, 37 genera and 24 families.

While Combretaceae is the most abundant family in the forest, Indigoberry (Randia dumetorum) is the dominant species.

Throughout the sanctuary the common species include Crepe myrtle (lanceolata), Kadam, Thaasal (Tiliaefolia), Simpoh (Pentagyna), Teak, Kindal, Indian-laurel, Rosewood, Indian kino tree, White teak, Fig tree sp., Mangosteen sp., Kydia Calycina, Indigo, Toddy Palm, Ceylon Oak, Jalari, Jamba tree, Axlewood and Slow Match Tree.

Thorny bamboo and clumping bamboo are quite common throughout the sanctuary.

Mammals:  An estimated 33 tigers reside in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Other mammals in the sanctuary include the elephant, gaur, sloth bear, wild pig, leopard, jungle cat, jackal, the dhole. Increasing ungulate numbers can be seen in the sambar, chital, munt jac and the diminutive mouse deer. Primates encompass the common langur, bonnet macaque, slender loris. Other Mammalia present include the small Indian Civet, common Palm Civet, pangolin, porcupine, flying Squirrel and the Malabar giant squirrel. Small carnivores found in the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary include leopard cat, rusty-spotted cat, ruddy mongoose, striped-necked mongoose and otters as well.

Reptiles:  Some of the reptiles commonly sighted in this park are common vine snake, king cobra, common cobra, Russell’s viper, bamboo pit viper, rat snake, olive keelback, common wolf snake, common Indian monitor, Draco or gliding lizards and marsh crocodiles.

Birds:  Bhadra sanctuary has more than 300 species of birds, some endemic to this region and some migratory. Some of the species found in Bhadra are grey junglefowl, red spurfowl, painted bush quail, emerald dove, southern green imperial pigeon, great black woodpecker, Malabar parakeet and hill myna, also the ruby-throated bulbul, shama, Malabar trogon, Malabar whistling thrush, four species of hornbill and racquet-tailed drongo.

Butterflies:  Some of the butterflies in Bhadra sanctuary are yam fly, baronet, crimson rose butterfly, southern birdwing, tailed jay, great orange tip, bamboo tree brown, and blue pansy.

SALIENT FEATURES
  • The Bhadra wildlife sanctuary is called so after the Bhadra River which abuts and then flows through the lush forests.
  • Reptiles found here are common vine snake, king cobra, common cobra, Russell’s viper, bamboo pit viper, rat snake, olive keelback, common wolf snake, common Indian monitor, draco or gliding lizards and marsh crocodiles.
  • Bhadra was declared as the 23rd Tiger Reserve of India in 1998 under the Project Tiger initiative of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. 
  • Bhadra is the first tiger reserve in the country to complete a successful village relocation program. The original relocation plan was introduced in 1974 and was implemented completely by 2002 when the 16 villages in the sanctuary were successfully relocated to M C Halli which is about 50 km (31 mi) from the Sanctuary.
  • More than 330 species of bird life, many of which are endemic to the Western Ghats, are spotted here.
  • The lush green vegetation of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary consists of mostly moist and dry Deciduous forests. 
  • More than 120 species of trees grow here, which include Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne, Nandi, Tadasalu and Kindal.