Nestled in the lush tropical forests of the Western Ghats in Chikmagalur
district is the
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It is about 275 kms north of Bangalore
and covers an area of 492.46 Sq. km. In 1951, the Government of Mysore
had declared this region as the Jagara valley Game Reserve and in
1974 it was reconstituted as the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It was
declared as the 25th Project Tiger of India in 1998. The highest peak
of the sanctuary is Kallahathigiri with a height of 1875M.
The ravines of this sanctuary are home to a large variety of flora
and fauna and it is regarded as one of the best Wildlife Sanctuaries
in India. The lush green vegetation and lofty hill ranges are a beautiful
spectacle.The sanctuary gets its name from the Bhadra river, which
flows perennially through this region. Two famed hill resorts, Kemmannugundi
and Bababuden Hills, are within the sanctuary. There is a local belief
that goes like this, "If the bamboo swings to the voice of the
wind and the tiger wanders with gaiety, then it must be Jagara Valley."
Jagara is a village situated close to the sanctuary.
The vegetation is deciduous and the succulant
green bamboos provide food for the majestic Elephant. More than 120
tree species grow here, which include Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne,
Nandi, Tadasalu and Kindal. There are also important medicinal plants
to be found here. A big teak tree called Jagara Giant with a girth
of 5.21 mts and aged about 300 years is one of the attractions of
the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is rich in wildlife. Home to the Indian Tiger, the sanctuary
has the sort of habitat that the animal craves - large spaces, open
jungle, ample shade. The leopard, sloth bear, giant squirrel, gaur,
sambar, elephant and slender loris are the other mammals to be found
here. Among birds, those to be spotted are the blackwinged kite, king
vulture, great horned owl, great pied hornbill, Indian tree pie, black
napped flycatcher and the open billed stork.
The sanctuary is also home to exotic
butterflies, which include yamfly, baronet, crimson rose, southern
birdwing, tailed jay, great orange tip, bamboo treebrown, blue pansy.
Besides these, one can also spot other animals like the flying snake,
rock python, bronze backed tree snake, common garden lizard, monitor
lizard, atlas moth, wild dog and the Indian pond turtle.
The rich biodiversity of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary has to be conserved
and preserved for future mankind. In 1999, the Government of India
brought the sanctuary under Project Tiger. Project Tiger is not merely
for Tiger Conservation. It also looks into the conservation of Tiger
habitat, its prey density and other aspects that endanger the tiger
population. These great beasts that once roamed the forests in large
numbers are on the verge of extinction. Let us act before it is too
late. Or some time in the future we may only be left with pictures
and images to remind us what this wonderful creature looked like.
For further details about the Sanctuary, please contact:
The Deputy Conservator of Forests
Bhadra Wildlife Division ( Project Tiger )
Chikmagalur - 577 101
Karnataka - INDIA
Phone : Office & Fax + 91-8262-28026
Residence +91-8262-30751
E-mail - dcfbhadra@vsnl.com
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests ( Wildlife )
Aranya Bhavan, Malleshwaram,
18th Cross, Bangalore - 560 003
Karnataka - INDIA
Phone : Office +91-80-3341993
Residence +91-80-3344839
Fax +91-80-3346839
E-mail - pccfwl@vsnl.com
8:11:25 AM 
the
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It is about 275 kms north of Bangalore
and covers an area of 492.46 Sq. km. In 1951, the Government of Mysore
had declared this region as the Jagara valley Game Reserve and in
1974 it was reconstituted as the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It was
declared as the 25th Project Tiger of India in 1998. The highest peak
of the sanctuary is Kallahathigiri with a height of 1875M. 
succulant
green bamboos provide food for the majestic Elephant. More than 120
tree species grow here, which include Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne,
Nandi, Tadasalu and Kindal. There are also important medicinal plants
to be found here. A big teak tree called Jagara Giant with a girth
of 5.21 mts and aged about 300 years is one of the attractions of
the sanctuary.
c
butterflies, which include yamfly, baronet, crimson rose, southern
birdwing, tailed jay, great orange tip, bamboo treebrown, blue pansy.
Besides these, one can also spot other animals like the flying snake,
rock python, bronze backed tree snake, common garden lizard, monitor
lizard, atlas moth, wild dog and the Indian pond turtle. 
