Page 526 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

524  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Karnataka

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, encompassing six contiguous wildlife sanctuaries, spans
the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Created to protect the extraordinary
biodiversity of the last surviving tracts of tropical evergreen and deciduous forests of
the Western Ghats, it includes the area over which the notorious sandalwood smuggler
and bandit, Veerappan, once held sway. This reserve, along with the adjacent Mudumalai
Sanctuary (see p608), forms one of the most important migratory corridors for animals
such as the Asian elephant and the Indian bison. These parks are within convenient
reach of Bengaluru (see pp516–18) and Mysuru (see pp522–3).

The Ranganthittoo Bird Sanctuary covers 675 sq km
(261 sq miles) of riverine islands in the middle of the Kaveri
river and attracts a large number of water birds during the
nesting season, especially from June to November.
The Nagarhole
Wildlife Sanctuary’s
profusion of rivers
and swampy
grasslands keep it
green all year.
Bandipur, declared a Established in 1983,
wildlife sanctuary in 1931 the park has 645 sq
by the then Maharaja km (249 sq miles)
of Mysore, has many of deciduous
chausingha (four horned vegetation. Its
antelope), and is also a wildlife includes the
Project Tiger Reserve (see bonnet macaque.
p293). It spreads over 875 It is located around
sq km (338 sq miles). 50 km (31 miles)
from Mysore.

The BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, east of the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve, is a corridor between the Ranganthittoo
Western and Eastern Ghats. Covering an area Bird Sanctuary
of 540 sq km (208 sq miles), it supports a variety Mysore • Kaveri
of birdlife, including storks. Lakshmantirtha
Nagarhole Kabini KARNATAKA
Wildlife Sanctuary Nugu
Nugu Gundal
Kabini Reservoir BRT Wildlife
Reservoir
Sanctuary
Bandipur
Wildlife Sanctuary
KERALA TAMIL NADU
Locator Map
Wildlife Sanctuaries

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