Landscapes
Central Western Ghats of Karnataka: A lesser-known Wildlife landscape
Central Western Ghats landscape comprises of Hassan, Chikmagalur, Udupi, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka state. Though these districts which are part of UNESCO World Heritage Site and Global Biodiversity Hotspot are known for their natural beauty and tourist places, but they are least known for the wildlife they harbour.
The Central Western Ghats landscape is very rich in biodiversity with nearly 500 tree species, 45 mammals, 380+ bird species, 55+ amphibian species and 200+ butterfly species recorded from these protected areas. Apart from supporting viable populations of endangered wildlife, the landscape is also a crucial sink for many dispersing endangered wildlife species like Tiger, Elephant, Dhole etc. from Bandipur-Nagarhole PA complex. With the presence of a network of protected areas, functional corridors, high human density and increased human-wildlife conflicts in the recent years, the landscape desperately needs attention and effective management.
Kudremukh-Sharavathi valley landscape
Kudremukh-Sharavathi valley landscape is one of the largest protected area network in the Western Ghats of Karnataka which includes Kudremukh national park, Someshwara wildlife sanctuary, Mookambika wildlife sanctuary and Sharavathi valley Lion-tailed Macaque sanctuary. Together the PA network covers an area of about 2200 km² of which nearly 1500 km² is rainforests . The landscape supports nearly 40% of the global Lion-tailed Macaque population making it an important area for long term conservation of these endangered primates. Sharavathi river valley further separates this population into two sub populations i.e., North and South.
The landscape is also an important watershed for major rivers that originate here like Tunga, Bhadra, Netravati, Sharavathi, Varada, Aghanashini, Seetanadi and Bhedti. Aghanashini and Bhedti are among the few west-flowing rivers that are still untouched by developmental exploitation.
Bhadra-Shettihally landscape
Bhadra – Shettihally forms an important protected area complex in the central Western Ghats. It comprises of two protected areas namely Bhadra Tiger Reserve and Shettihally Wildlife Sanctuary with a total area of 1000 sq. kms of protected forests The two protected areas are connected through a corridor comprising mainly of reserved forests of Umblebyle landscape. The Bhadra-Shettihally landscape in central western ghats of Karnataka is a crucial landscape for long term conservation of several endangered wildlife like Tiger, Dhole and Asiatic Elephant.
Most importantly Bhadra Tiger Reserve is the key source population site for Tigers and other endangered wildlife which is currently in recovery from past anthropogenic pressures. The Bhadra tiger reserve is well connected with Shettihally wildlife sanctuary to the north and Kudremukh National Park to the southwest. These two protected areas act as crucial sinks for dispersing wildlife from the Bhadra tiger reserve.
