Tiger Reserves in Karnataka

Karnataka has 5 tiger reserves.

Table of Contents

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Location: Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, Karnataka, India; tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1931 by the Maharaja of Mysore.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 1973 under Project Tiger.
National Park: Expanded in 1985 by including areas from Venugopala Wildlife Park and renamed Bandipur National Park.
Biosphere Reserve: Became part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986.
UNESCO Status: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000.
Area: 1456.309 sq km (Core/Critical: 872.24 sq km; Buffer/Peripheral: 118.279 sq km).
Hills: Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, the highest peak within the reserve.
River: Located between the Kabini River in the north and the Moyar River in the south; Nugu River also flows through the reserve.
Lake: Kabini Reservoir, formed by the Kabini Dam on the Kabini River.
Tribe: Soliga tribe, also known as Sholaga or Sholiga.
Plants: Rosewood, Indian kino tree, sandalwood, Indian laurel, bamboo.
Animals: Tiger, Indian Elephant, Indian Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Golden Jackal, Dhole, Sambar Deer, Mugger Crocodile.

Location: Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts, Karnataka, India.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1951.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 1998 as Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
Area: 1072.00 sq km (Core: 500.16 sq km; Buffer: 571.84 sq km).
Hills: Lakkavalli Range, Muthodi Range, Mullayanagiri, Gangegiri, Hebbegiri, Baba Budangiri ranges.
River: Named after the Bhadra River, which flows through the reserve.
Lake: Bhadra Reservoir (Bhadra Lake), formed by the Bhadra Dam.
Tribe: Soliga tribe.
Plants: Southern moist mixed deciduous forests, southern dry mixed deciduous forests, shola forests.
Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Dhole, Sambar, Marsh Crocodile.

Location: Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India; bio-geographical bridge between Western and Eastern Ghats.
Biosphere Reserve: Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1974 around Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple.
Tiger Reserve: Upgraded in 2011 as Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve.
Area: 574.82 sq km (Core: 359.10 sq km; Buffer: 215.72 sq km).
Hills: Located in the Biligiri Ranganatha Hills, part of the Eastern Ghats.
Plants: Southern tropical evergreen forests, southern tropical semi-evergreen forests, southern tropical moist deciduous forests.
Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Pit Viper, Monitor Lizards.

Location: Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India.
Former Name: Previously known as Dandeli–Anshi Tiger Reserve.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1956 by the Government of Karnataka.
National Park: Anshi National Park established in 1987.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 2007 by combining Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park under Project Tiger.
Renaming: Renamed Kali Tiger Reserve in 2015 to highlight the Kali River.
Area: 1345.7167 sq km (Core: 814.884 sq km; Buffer: 530.8327 sq km).
River: Named after the Kali River, which flows through the reserve.
Plants: South Indian moist deciduous teak forests, southern moist mixed deciduous forests, west coast semi-evergreen forests, bamboo.
Animals: Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Dhole, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear.
Black Panther: Rare populations found within the reserve.

Location: Kodagu and Mysore districts, Karnataka, India.
Other Name: Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
Biosphere Reserve: Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1955.
National Park: Upgraded in 1988 as Nagarhole National Park.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 1999 under Project Tiger.
UNESCO Status: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve recognized as World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000.
Area: 1205.76 sq km (Core: 643.35 sq km; Buffer Forest: 200.57 sq km; Buffer Non-Forest: 361.84 sq km).
River: Nagarahole River flows through the reserve and joins the Kabini River, which forms a natural boundary with Bandipur National Park.
Lake: Kabini Reservoir, Taraka Reservoir.
Plants: Dry deciduous forests, tropical moist forests, semi-evergreen forests, grasslands, swamps.
Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Chital, Indian Mouse Deer, Gaur, Dhole, Sloth Bear, White-rumped Vulture, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Mugger Crocodile.