In the Indian state of Karnataka’s Kodagu and Mysore districts sits the Nagarahole National Park.
In 1999, this park was designated as India’s 37th tiger reserve. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes it. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is considering designating the whole 6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi) Western Ghats Nilgiri Sub-Cluster, which includes Nagarhole National Park, as a World Heritage Site.
The park is home to populations of Bengal tigers, gaurs, Indian elephants, Indian leopards, chital, and Sambar deer. It also features an overgrowth of trees, minor streams, hills, valleys, and waterfalls.
History:
The words “naga” and “hole,” which both relate to streams, are the source of the park’s name. The park served as a private hunting preserve for the Wodeyar family monarchs, who formerly ruled the Kingdom of Mysore. It was established in 1955 as a wildlife refuge, and over time, it grew to include 643.39 km (399.78 mi) of land. In 1988, it was elevated to become a national park. In 1999, the park was designated as a tiger reserve.
Geography:
The park extends from the foothills of the Western Ghats down toward Kerala State and the Brahmagiri highlands. It is located between 12°15’37.69″N and 76°17’34.4″E longitudes. The 643 km2 (248 sq mi) park is northwest of Bandipur National Park and has a total area of. The two parks are divided by the Kabini reservoir. The park’s elevations range from 2,254 to 3,150 feet (687 to 960 meters). It is located 220 kilometers (137 miles) from Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, and 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Mysore, a significant city.
It constitutes the biggest protected area in Southern India, totaling 2,183 km2 (843 sq mi), together with the neighboring 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).
Climate and ecology:
1,440 millimeters (57 in) of rain fall on the park each year. Lakshmmantirtha River, Sarati Hole, Nagar Hole, Balle Halla, Kabini River, 47 seasonal streams, 4 tiny perennial lakes, 41 man-made tanks, several wetlands, Taraka Dam, and Kabini reservoir are some of its water sources.
Flora:
In the southern regions, teak (Tectona grandis) and roseta rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) predominate among the wet deciduous forests of the North Western Ghats.
The Central Deccan Plateau has dry deciduous woods with prickly wattles (acacia) and pala indigo (Wrightia tinctoria) in the direction of the east. Several Eugenia species can be found in sub-montane valley freshwater wetland forests. The primary trees include silver oak, rosewood, sandalwood, and teak, all of which are significant commercially.
The Indian kino (Pterocarpus marsupium), crocodile bark (Terminalia elliptica), crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Grewia tiliifolia, and axlewood (Anogeissus latifolia) are among the trees found in the dry deciduous forest.
The Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), beechwood (Gmelina arborea), Kydia calycina, and horse nettles (Solanum), as well as invasive species like Lantana camara and bonesets (Eupatorium), flourish in the understorey.
These woods have some notable tree species, including clumping bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), golden shower (Cassia fistula), and flame-of-the-forest (Butea monosperma).
Fauna:
Mammals:
Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris), Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca), dholes (Cuon alpinus), Indian jackals (Canis aureus indicus), and sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are the main predators in the park.
The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), the gaur (Bos gaurus), the sambar (Cervus unicolor), the chital (Axis axis), the barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), the four-horned antelope (Tetracercus quadricornis), and the wild boar (Sus scrofa) are examples of large herbivores.
Red slender loris (Loris tadigradus), Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), gray langur (Presbytes entellus), bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), and red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) are examples of arboreal animals.
A few small predators are the jungle cat (Felis chaus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), stripe-necked mongoose (Urva vitticolla), and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra).
Other mammals include the Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), and Indian spotted chevrotain (Moschiola indica).
Birds:
Nagarhole National Park is home to more than 250 different bird species. The Kabini river is home to vast concentrations of waterfowl in addition to a huge diversity of forest species. The birds include ospreys, herons, ducks, blue-bearded bee-eaters, scarlet minivets, and other less uncommon species. The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Lesser Adjutant (Leptopilos javanicus), Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga), and Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) are just a few of the more than 270 bird species found in the park, which is designated as an Important Bird Area.
There are also some species that are in danger of extinction, including the Asian darter (Anhniga melanogaster), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), and grey-headed fish eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus).
The 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) are examples of endemism.
The 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) are among the birds spotted in drier areas.
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 the Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), the Chunam tree frog (Polypedates maculatus), the green pond frog (Euphlyctis hexadactylus), the golden bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus), and others.
Insects:
The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, located in Bangalore, has conducted extensive investigations on the biodiversity of the insect population. More than 96 species of dung beetles and 60 species of ants are among the park’s diverse insect population. Unusual species of ants, such as jumping ants like Harpegnathos saltator, which are reported to jump up to a meter high, have been identified.
The termite-eating ant Tetraponera rufonigra is common in areas with a lot of dead trees, making it a potential indicator of the health of the forest.Onthophagus dama, the biggest dung beetle in India, Heliocopris dominus, a dung beetle that only breeds in elephant dung, and Onthophagus pactolus, a rare dung beetle species, are among the identified dung beetles.
Tribal and native inhabitants:
The Jenu Kurubas, the main occupants of this woodland area, are a tribe from the state of Karnataka, and they still follow many of their ancient customs and traditions. Due to a number of reasons, including but not limited to conservation efforts and integrating the community into society, the government is restricting their access to the National park and forest.
The Jenu Kuruba and the Koraga were recognised as tribal tribes in Karnataka by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The Jenu Kuruba people are traditional food collectors and bees. In Kannada, the words “Jenu” and “kuruba” often signify “honey” and “shepherd,” respectively. Its origins are in the Kannada word “kuri,” which meaning “sheep.” Kuruba is also used to describe populations that do not have shepherds. Within their familial kin group, they speak a variety of Kannada known as Jenu-nudi, and they converse in Kannada with others. They write in Kannada. The Jenu Kuruba community has a population of 34,747 people, 17,867 of whom are men and 16,880 of whom are women, according to the Census of 1981.
Relocation efforts:
The Government and NGOs have been working very hard over the past ten years to move tribal people to the edges of the woods. The relocation initiatives are a part of a wider attempt to maintain the habitat for elephants and the current tiger population, both of which are seriously threatened by changes in tribal members’ lives. The indigenous tribes have resisted relocation efforts vigorously. For the sake of the displaced indigenous community, several dwellings and schools have been erected with essential facilities like lights, hospitals, and roads.
