| Located in Shimoga District, Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary spans over 431 sq km. Apart from the area occupied by the Liganamakki Reservoir or Honnemaradu, the sanctuary is divided into core zone, buffer zone and tourism zone. The Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (Latitude 13°54’10” to 14°16’31”, Longitude 74°38’32” to 74°59’45”) includes a large part of the Linganamakki reservoir formed by the damming of the Sharavathi River by the Karnataka Power Corporation. The river was dammed in 1958. The sanctuary covers an area of 431 sq. km. The sanctuary is nourished by the Sharavathi River. The Sharavathi Sanctuary is cloaked in evergreen, semi-green and moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats and is contiguous with the Mookambika Sanctuary. These comprise flora species that yield spices, soapnuts, natural dyes, medicines, fruits, oil seeds, cane and bamboo, dhupa, gum, and honey. Besides gaur and several groups of lion-tailed macaque, the sanctuary is home to a variety of species including tiger, leopard (black panther), wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig, common langur, bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, porcupine, otter and pangolin. Reptiles include king cobra, python, rat snake (some almost black), crocodile and monitor lizard. Three species of hornbill, paradise flycatcher, racket tailed drongo, blue-throated barbet and Indian lorikeet are the avian fauna here. Flora : The sanctuary has mainly evergreen, semi-green and some moist deciduous forests. Trees in the evergreen forest include species such as Dipterocarpus indicus, Calophyllum tomentosum, Machilus macrantha, Caryota urens and Aporosa lindleyana. [8] In the semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, common species include Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Hopea parviflora, Dalbergia latifolia, Dillenia pentagyna, Careya arborea, Emblica officinalis, Randia sp., Terminalia sp. and Vitex altissima.[8] Fauna : The sanctuary is a refuge of the endangered Lion-tailed macaque. Other mammals include tiger, leopard (black panther), wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig, common langur, bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, porcupine, otter and pangolin. Reptiles include king cobra, python, rat snake, crocodile and monitor lizard.[8] Some of the avian species found in the sanctuary include three species of hornbill, paradise flycatcher, racket-tailed drongo, blue-throated barbet and Indian lories and lorikeets. |
| The northern part of the sanctuary is mainly semi evergreen forest, degraded in many areas. The entire route from Kargal, through the sanctuary, has numerous villages often bordered by plantations. A large part of the eastern part of the sanctuary is the Linganamakki reservoir itself. Whilst most of our time was spent trekking in the Mupanne area. exploring the trail that leads to Kanur fort, through with dense evergreen forest on either side of the road. The road to Kanur is a 12 km “kuchcha” road from the main road. The western part of the forest, from Kone to Nagavalli (9 km.) is through dense impenetrable evergreen forest. Bhimeshwar, a temple, is approximately 3 km. from Kone, is possibly the only place where one could trek a bit. |
WildLife Sanctuary 
