Nagarhole National Park
Nagarahole National Park | |
---|---|
Location | Karnataka, India |
Coordinates | 12°3′36″N 76°9′4″E / 12.06000°N 76.15111°E |
Area | 642.39 km2 (248.03 sq mi) |
Elevation | 960 m |
Established | 1988 |
Website | nagaraholetigerreserve.com |
Nagarahole National Park is a
This park was declared the 37th
The park has rich forest cover, small streams, hills, valleys and waterfalls, and populations of Bengal tiger, gaur, Indian elephant, Indian leopard, chital and Sambar deer.
Geography
The park ranges the foothills of the
Together with the adjoining Bandipur National Park (870 km2 (340 sq mi)), Mudumalai National Park (320 km2 (120 sq mi)) and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km2 (133 sq mi)), it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totalling 2,183 km2 (843 sq mi).[citation needed]
Climate and ecology
The park receives an annual rainfall of 1,440 millimetres (57 in). Its water sources include the Lakshmmantirtha river, Sarati Hole, Nagar Hole, Balle Halla, Kabini River, four perennial streams, 47 seasonal streams, four small perennial lakes, 41 artificial tanks, several swamps, Taraka Dam and the Kabini reservoir.[5]
History
The park derives its name from naga, meaning snake and hole, referring to streams. The park was an exclusive
Flora
The vegetation here consists mainly of
Trees of the dry deciduous forest include crocodile bark (Terminalia elliptica), crêpe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Indian kino (Pterocarpus marsupium), Grewia tiliifolia and axlewood (Anogeissus latifolia).[6]
Species growing in the
These forests have some conspicuous tree species such as golden shower (Cassia fistula), flame-of-the-forest (Butea monosperma) and clumping bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus).[5][7]
Fauna
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2021) |
Mammals
The big predators in the park are Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), dhole (Cuon alpinus), Indian jackal (Canis aureus indicus) and sloth bear (Melursus ursinus).
Large herbivores include
Arboreal mammals include
Small predators include jungle cat (Felis chaus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), Indian grey mongoose (Urva edwardsi), Indian brown mongoose (Urva fuscua), stripe-necked mongoose (Urva vitticolla) and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra).
Other mammals include Indian spotted chevrotain (Moschiola indica), Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica).[5][7]
Birds
Over 250 species of birds live in Nagarhole National Park. Besides the enormous variety of woodland birds, there are large congregations of waterfowl in the Kabini river. Birds range from blue-bearded bee-eater to the more common osprey, herons and ducks. Recognised as an Important Bird Area, the park has over 270 species of birds, including the white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), lesser adjutant (Leptopilos javanicus), greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) and Nilgiri wood pigeon (Columba elphinstonii).
Near threatened species like Oriental darter (Anhniga melanogaster), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), grey-headed fish eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus) also occur.
Endemic species include the blue-winged parakeet (Psittacula columboides), Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus), white-bellied treepie (Dendrocitta leucogastra), white-cheeked barbet (Psilopogon viridis), Indian scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii), Malabar trogon (Harpactes fasciatus) and Malabar whistling thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii).
Birds seen in drier regions include painted bush quail (Perdicula erythrorhyncha), Sirkeer malkoha (Taccocua leschenaultii), ashy prinia (Prinia socialis), Indian robin (Copsychus fulicatus), Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and yellow-footed green pigeon (Treron phonyceptaurus).[5][7]
Reptiles and amphibians
Common reptiles include the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Asian vine snake (Ahaetulla genus), Indian wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus), Oriental ratsnake (Ptyas mucosa), bamboo pit viper (Craspedocephalus gramineus), Russell's viper (Daboia russellii), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Indian python (Python molurus), Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis).
Amphibians include Chunam tree frog (Polypedates maculatus), green pond frog (Euphlyctis hexadactylus), golden bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) and Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus).[5][7]
Insects
Extensive studies on the biodiversity of the insect population have been carried out by researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore. The insect biodiversity of this park includes over 96 species of dung beetles and 60 species of ants. Unusual species of ants that have been identified, including the jumping ants such as Harpegnathos saltator, which are known to jump up to a metre high.
The ant species Tetraponera rufonigra may be useful as a marker for the forest health because these ants feed on termites and are abundant in places where there are many dead trees. Identified dung beetles include India's largest beetle Onthophagus dama, Heliocopris dominus which breeds only in elephant dung, and Onthophagus pactolus, a rare species of dung beetle.[citation needed]
Tribal and native inhabitants
The Jenu Kurubas, primary inhabitants of this forest area, are a tribe in Karnataka state and their traditional practices and rituals are slowly disappearing. The government is restricting their entry inside the National park and forest due to multiple factors including but not limited conservation efforts and bringing the community to the mainstream society.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, identified the Jenu Kuruba and the Koraga as tribal groups in Karnataka. The Jenu Kurubas are traditional food gatherers and honey collectors. In Kannada, the term 'Jenu' means 'honey' and the term 'kuruba' generally mean 'shepherd'. It is derived from the Kannada word 'kuri' which means 'sheep'. The term kuruba is also associated with non-shepherd communities. They speak a variant form of Kannada commonly known as Jenu-nudi within their family kin group, and Kannada with others. They use Kannada script. According to the Census of 1981, the population of Jenu Kuruba community is 34,747 out of which 17,867 are male and 16,880 are female.[8]
Relocation efforts
In the last decade there has been enormous activity undertaken both by the Government and NGOs to relocate tribal people to the periphery of the forests. The relocation efforts are part of a larger focus to conserve the existing tiger population and elephant habitat, which were under serious threat due to change in lifestyles of the tribal residents within the forests. There has been much resistance to relocation efforts from the tribal groups. Many schools and houses have been built with basic amenities like lighting, hospitals and roads to support the relocated tribal population.[9]
Threats and conservation efforts
Threats to the national park come from a large-scale cutting of sandalwood and teak trees. Timber smuggling, especially sandalwood smuggling, happens quite extensively here. Timber felling has been reported from plantation areas in Kollihadi, Vadodara Modu, Tattikere in Veerahosanahalli, and Mettiupe in Kalahari. Other places where timber felling has been reported include Arekatti, Badrikatte, Bidurukatte, Veerana Hosahalli, and Marhigodu ranges. In July 2002 hundreds of trees were cut down in the Veeranahosalli range.[10]
A study carried out between 1996 and 1997 revealed that hunting was the biggest threat to wildlife in
Poaching of birds and other mammals is another serious issue. A high number of elephant deaths have been reported from this park, with nearly 100 elephants dying between 1991–92 and 2004–05 in the Kodagu and Hunsur Forest Division (PA Update 2005). Elephants are killed for their ivory. A study carried out by Wildlife First! found that nearly 77 elephants were reported dead between 1 January 2000 and 31 October 2002. Another study carried out by the Institute for Natural Resources, Conservation, Education, Research and Training (INSERT) in 2002 revealed that as many as seven elephants had been killed earlier that year.[12]
A report submitted by the Project Tiger Steering Committee stated that barely 25% of the park's staff were involved in vigilance work, thus putting the park at high risk of both, poaching and tree felling. Irregular payment to the forestry staff has been reported in both Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks and there have also been reports of improper use of project funds.[12][11]
In January 2012, there was a catastrophic
In 1997, tribal activist groups won public interest litigation in the
See also
References
- ^ "Nagarhole National Park Complete Guide | Nagarhole National Park". Nagarhole National Park. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ UNESCO. "World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Nilgiris". World Heritage sites, Tentative lists. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
- ^ a b "Protected Areas in Karnataka", Protected Area Network, ENVIS, archived from the original on 9 October 2011, retrieved 27 February 2012
- ^ HolidayIQ.com. "Bangalore to Nagarhole - distance, journey time & traveller reviews | HolidayIQ". holidayiq.com. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Lal, R. (1994). Directory of national parks and sanctuaries in Karnataka: management status and profiles. Centre for Public Policy, Planning, and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Public Administration. pp. 53–62.
- ^ Pascal, J.P; Shyam Sundar, S.; Meher-Homji, V.M. (1982). Forest map of South India: Mercara-Mysore. French institute, Pondicherry.
- ^ ISBN 0-19-567333-6.
- ^ "Tribal". www.sherlockretreat.in.
- ^ "Concern over plan to rehabilitate tribal families displaced from Nagarahole". The Hindu.
- ^ "ProtectedAreaUpdateon39_Oct2002" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ a b c "Protected Area Update April 2003". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ a b ProtectedAreaUpdateinDecember2005, archived from the original on 21 July 2011, retrieved 21 February 2011
- ^ "Nagarhole Tiger Reserve smoulders, but who cares?". IBN Live. Global Broadcast News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
- ^ a b "ProtectedAreaUpdate22onOct1999" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Protected Area Update 2004 April". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ Protect Area Update from Sept1994 to Jul1998 (PDF), retrieved 15 February 2011
- ^ "Protected Area Update Dec 2000" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2011.
Literature
- K K Gurung & Raj Singh: Field Guide to the Mammals of the Indian Subcontinent, Academic Press, San Diego, ISBN 0-12-309350-3
- William Riley, laura Riley: Nature's Strongholds. The World's Great Wildlife Reserves. Princeton University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-691-12219-9
- "ecoinfoindia.org". ecoinfoindia.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- Kazmierczak, K. 2000. A field guide to the birds of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. OM Book Service, New Delhi, India. 352 pp.
- Menon, V. 2003. A field guide to Indian mammals. DK (India) Pvt Ltd and Penguin Book India (P) Ltd. 201 pp.
External links
- Media related to Nagarhole National Park at Wikimedia Commons
- Nagarhole National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Nagarhole tiger reserve blog
- Wildlife Times: Article on Predators of Nagarahole (archived 17 May 2007)
- Wildlife Times: The Annual Elephant Symposium (archived 24 June 2006)
- Wildlifetimes.com Wildlife Photography
- Wildlife Times: Elephant Migration to Kabini (archived 24 June 2006)