wildlife in karnataka

Bandipur:

Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks, Mysore

Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and the Wynad Reserve in Kerala the two attractive wildlife parks of Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka, though separate entities, are part of a larger contiguous wildlife reserve that includes the. Both the parks are easily accessible from Mysore.

The Tiger Reserve, which is 874.20 sq. km. Bandipur National Park, with its open grassy woodland, lies to the south of the Kabini River while Nagarhole, 643.39 so. km. in area, to the north of the river, has taller and denser forests. A dam on the Kabini and its picturesque reservoir separate the two parks. In the dense moist deciduous forests of this area the upper canopy reaches heights of 30m and valuable hardwoods like teak and rosewood are also to be found here.

Bandipur, lying in the shadow of the Western Ghats, is one of the finest habitats of the Asian elephant. Drained by the Moyar River, its open forest makes it easy for visitors to see the elephant and gaur in natural surroundings.

General Information

Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve

• Best Time to Visit
  March-August
• Accommodation
  Forest Lodges, Cottages, Forest Rest Houses


• Nearest town
  Gundulpet(20km)
• How to get there
  Rail-Mysore (65 km)
  Air-Bangalore (190 km)
• For further information contact:
  Field Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Mysore-570004.

Nagarhole National Park

• Best Time to Visit
  October- March
• Accommodation
  Kabini River Lodge with excellent facilities
• Nearest town
  Kutta (7 km), Mysore (80 km)
• How to get there
  Rail-Mysore (80 km)
  Air-Bangalore (220 km)
• For further information contact:
  Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd., 2nd floor, Srungar Shopping Centre, MG Road, Bangalore-56000

At Nagarhole, too, there are excellent facilities for viewing wildlife and large groups of gaur, elephant, sambar, chital and even the occasional tiger or leopard are seen. Among other mammals are the muntjac, the tiny mouse deer, wild boar, pangolin, giant squirrel, slender loris, langurs and macaques. The Park has about 250 species of birds and the Malabar trogan, the Malabar Herd of elephants pied hornbill, the great black woodpecker, the Indian pitta and the green imperial pigeon are part of its avian variety. Lesser cats like the jungle cat, leopard cat and rusty spotted cat are also resident species.

Mudumalai :

Mudumalai Sanctuary, Gudalur

 The hilly terrain of the Western Ghats, Mudumalai (the ancient hills) is made most attractive wildlife reserve because it is clothed in dense mixed and moist deciduous forests. Moyar River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur runs through the Park following its course runs the Mysore-Ooty highway. The hilly terrain, with just 321 sq. km. in area, provides diverse habitats. The wild elephant, gaur, deer and primates like the bonnet macaque and langurs all inhabit the Park. The predators include the tiger, leopard and the dhole - the Asiatic wild dog, that hunts in packs. The predators of the skies are the crested hawk eagle and the crested serpent eagle that can be seen circling above.

Among the stands of teak and bamboo thickets, in the cool of the dense forests, are colourful birds - hornbills, the great black woodpecker with its dramatic red crest, mynas, barbets and parakeets. The tiny eared owl, the scops owl and the little scops owl are more heard than seen.

General Information