Bhadra Tiger Reserve

Bhadra Tiger Reserve, situated amid the Western Ghats in Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts of Karnataka, is walled by hill ranges of Mullaianagiri, Hebbegiri, Gangegiri, and Babaudangiri. It is also surrounded by the picturesque Bhadra river and its tributaries like Somavahini, Thadabehalla, and Odirayanahalla. A dam has been constructed across the Bhadra river near Lakkavalli. The Tiger Reserve consists of two main areas, Muthodi and Lakkavalli. The Reserve is shaped like a saucer with mostly undulating terrain with valleys and steep hillocks. The area was declared as Jagara Valley Wildlife Sanctuary by the Government of Mysore in 1951. The adjacent areas rich in wildlife were surveyed, and the Sanctuary was reconstituted in 1974 as Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. Ancient temples like the Bhakta Markandya temple of Khandwa and the Bhavani Shankar temple of Hebbe are tourist attractions. These temples were built during the Hoisala regime. It is the first official tiger reserve to finish a successful village relocation programme and a success story in wildlife conservation. Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Dry Teak, Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Mixed Forest, Dry Deciduous Scrub Forest, Boswellia Forest, Dry Bamboo Brakes, and Anogeissus pendula Forest are the major forest types found in the Reserve.

Description

State : Karnataka

District : Chikkamagalur, Shimoga

Coordinates : 13.6949° N, 75.6352° E

Area : 1064.29 Sq.km

TR Notification year : 1994-1995

Tiger Population : 30 (All India Tiger Esitmation, 2018)