Bandipur National Park
Encyclopedia
Bandipur National Park is one of India
's best known protected area
s and is an important Project Tiger
reserve. It is located in the Chamarajanagar
district of southern Karnataka
in South India
,
The park stretches over 874 square kilometres (337.5 sq mi), protecting the wildlife of Karnataka
. Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park
(643 km² (248.3 sq mi)), Mudumalai National Park
(320 km² (123.6 sq mi)) and Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km² (132.8 sq mi)), it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totaling 2183 km² (842.9 sq mi).
It is notable as the home to around seventy Bengal tiger
s and over three thousand Indian elephant
s (in 1997 ) Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
.
The Western Ghats
, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km²), including all of Bandipur National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee
for selection as a World Heritage Site
.
•BANDIPURA. ( Chamarajanagar dt; Gundlupet tq;)
•Bandipura is in Hangala hobli, 19 km from Gundlupet, 80 km from Mysore and 220 km from Bangalore, on the Mysore-Ooty road..
•It is a beautiful tourist spot and considered as one of the best wild life sanctuaries in the country. It is a national park covering an area of about 874 sq.km and has been selected in 1974 as Project Tiger area to protect and increase the tiger population.
•It is a dwelling place for wild animals like elephant, tiger, panther, sambar, wild boar jackal, squirrel, gaur, barking deer, langur etc.
•Among birds, robbins, jungle fowl, tits, bulbils, partridges warbles, peacocks, pigeons etc.
•Flora of the forest are teak,dindal, honne, matti, nerale, tadsal and bamboos.
•A number of tanks and streams are the water sources for animals. There are vehicles and riding elephants to carry the tourists into the sanctuary. A number of cottages and dormitories for the visitors to stay are also there at the entrance of the park.
( Source: Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983)
of 90 km² (34.7 sq mi) was created at this site in the Bandipur Reserve Forest
in 1931. As it was realised that this was too small for effective wildlife conservation, leading to the instituting of the Venugopala Wildlife Park at this site, extending over 800 km² (308.9 sq mi). The Bandipur Tiger Reserve was established under Project Tiger
in 1973 by carving out 880 km² (339.8 sq mi) from the Wildlife Park. This park has boasted a constant rise in Tiger population since then. It is also famous for Sandalwood
trees and rare species of Flora
.
.The rivers Kabini, Nagur and Moyar flow through the reserve. Winter minimum temperature is 10 degrees C., Summer maximum 28 degrees. The park is open throughout the year but the best time to visit is in monsoon from June to September when wildlife is plenty and forest is green. Greenery is quite lean when viewed from road but gets thicker as we proceed into the forest.
Tectona grandis, Rosewood
Dalbergia latifolia
, Sandlewood (Santalum album) (V
), Indian-laurel Terminalia tomentosa, Indian Kino Tree Pterocarpus marsupium, giant clumping bamboo
Dendrocalamus strictus, clumping bamboo
Bambusa arundinacea and Grewia tiliaefolia.
There are also several notable flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs including: Kadam tree
Adina cordifolia, Indian gooseberry Emblica officinalis, Crape-myrtle
Lagerstroemia lanceolata, axlewood
Anogeissus latifolia, Black Myrobalan
Terminalia chebula, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, Flame of the Forest
Butea monosperma, Golden Shower Tree
Cassia fistula, satinwood
Chloroxylon swetenia, Black Cutch
Acacia catechu, Shorea talura
(E
), indigoberry
Randia uliginosa
There is a large population of Elephant
s in BNP.
Significant numbers of Predator species of Mammals live in BNP including: Tiger
, Leopard
, Sloth Bear
, Chevrotain
, Dhole
and Hyena
. Prey species of grazing Ungulate
s including Gaur
, Sambar (deer), Chital
, Wild boar, Barking deer and Four-horned Antelope
are common in B.N.P.
Large Mammal Census, Bandipur National Park
Threatened species
:
Tiger, Four horned Antelope, Gaur, Elephant, Panther, Sloth Bear, Crocodiles, Mouse deer, Python, Osprey,
Birds: Grey Junglefowl
, Pompadour Green Pigeon
, Honey Buzzard
, Red-headed Vulture
, Grey-headed Fish Eagle
, Brown Hawk Owl
, Bay Owl
, Malabar Trogon
, Nilgiri Flycatcher
, Malabar Pied Hornbill
, Little Spiderhunter
, Peacock
, Plain Flowerpecker
and Woolly-necked Stork
can be seen at B.N.P..
Reptiles: King Cobra, Common Cobra, Python, Adder, Viper, Rat Snake, Water Snake, Marsh Crocodile, Lizard, Chameleon, Monitor Lizard, Frog, Tree frog, Toad and Tortoise.
Insects
Butterflies: Common Rose, Crimson Rose, Common Jay, Tailed, Lime Butterfly, Malabar Raven, Common Mormon, Red Helen, Blue Mormon, Southern Birdwing, Common Wanderer, Mottled Emigrant, Common Grass Yellow, Spotless Grass Yellow, One spot Grass Yellow, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, Common Jezebel, Psyche, Common Gull., Caper White or Pioneer, Small Orange Tip or Lesser Orange Tip, White Orange Tip, Large Salmon Arab, Common Evening Brown, Great Evening Brown, Common Palmfly, Common Bushbrown, Glad Eye Bushbrowm, Red Disk Bushbrown, Red Eye Bushbrown, Lepcha Bushbrown, Nigger, Common Threering, Common Fourring, Common Fivering, Tawny Coster, Rustic , Common Leopard, Indian Fritillary, Common Sailer, Colour Sergeant, Chestnutstreaked Sailer, Grey Count, Red Baron or Baronet, Angled Castor, Common Castor Aridane merione, Yellow Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Peacock Pansy, Chocolate Pansy, Orange Pansy, Blue Pansy, Grey Pansy, Blue Admiral, Glassy Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Striped Tiger/ Common Tiger, Danaid Eggfly, Great Eggfly, Common Crow, Brown King Crow, Common Pierrot, Angled Pierrot, Banded Blue Pierrot, Striped Pierrot, Dark Pierrot, Red Pierrot, Lime Blue, Zebra Blue, Gram Blue, Common Cerulean, Tiny Grass Blue, Dark Grass Blue, Indian Cupid, Large Four-Line Blue, Common Silverline, Plum Judy, Plain Scupid, Pea Blue, Metallic Cerulean, Chestnut Bob, Dark Palm Dart, Brown awl
Ants:Anenictus sp1, Anoplolepis longipes,Camponotus parius, Crematogaster biroi, Crematogaster sp 1*, Crematogaster sp 2*, Diacamma rugosum, Lepisiota capensis,Leptogenys chinesis, Leptogenys coonorensis, Leptogenys diminuta, Lophomyrmex quadripinosus, Meranoplus bicolor, Monomorium indicum, Myrmicaria striata, Myrmicaria brunnea, Oligomyrmex wroughtonii, Pachycondyla sp1*, Paratrechina sp1*, Pheidole sharpi, Pheidole sp1*, Pheidole sp2*, Pheidologeton diverus, Polyrhachis exercita, Solenopsis geminate, Tetraponera rufonigra, Tetraponera sp1* (* New species yet to be identified.)
Dung Beetles:Catharsius granulatus *, Copris indicus *, Oniticellus cinctus*, Onitis singhalensis *, Onthophagus beesoni*, Onthophagus ensifer *, Onthophagus rana *, Onthophagus sp.107* #, Onthophagus tarandus*, Picnopanaleus rotundus, Caccobius diminutives, Caccobius ultor, Copris furciceps, Copris sp.1#, Heliocopris dominus, Pseudonthophagus sp.2#, Sisyphus neglectus, Caccobius inermis, Caccobius meridionalis., Caccobius torticornis, Caccobius sp.1#, Copris sodalist, Onthophagus socialis, Onthophagus sp.301#, Onitis phelemon, Onthophagus furcillifer, Caccobius gallinus, Onthophagus rufulgens, Onthophagus sp.302#, Copris repertus, Pseudonthophagus sp.1#, Copris davisoni, Onitis falcatus, Onthophagus turbatus, Copris imitans, Onthophagus quadridentatus, Caccobius vulcanus, Liatongus affinis, Oniticellus spinipes, Sisyphus longipus, Onthophagus dama (* Eextremely rare (Represented by a by a single specimen in the collection), # New species yet to be identified.
There are fears of possible transmission of diseases from cattle to wildlife. In 1968, large numbers of gaur were killed in an outbreak of rinderpest
. Lantana
bush introduced by British in 19th century in tea gardens has spread rapidly at the cost of other valuable herbs and saplings. This bush is thorny, attracts mosquitoes, is not eaten by any herbivores and rapid spread has caused other species of fauna to vanish which is staple food for wild life. Rapid spread of Parthenium
(Parthenium hysterophorus) has severely damaged bio-diversity and typical landscapes of this beautiful jungle is making way for this invasive weed.
Elephants which traditionally migrate from dry to moist zones now increasingly come into contact with human habitations and farms are often damaged. Sugarcane
crops are particularly attractive to them.
The National Highway 212 ( NH-212 ) passes through Bandipur national park . This road has been a major concern as speeding vehicles have killed many wild animals in spite of frequent warnings to travelers from the forest department officials and restriction on movement of vehicles in some stretches between 9 P.M to 6 A.M. This has raised fears of extinction of habitat of wild animals exclusively found in this national park..
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's best known protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s and is an important Project Tiger
Project Tiger
Project Tiger was launched in 1972 in India. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the people. The selection of areas for the reserves represented as close as possible the...
reserve. It is located in the Chamarajanagar
Chamarajanagar
Chamarajanagar is a town in the southern end of Karnataka, a state in India. It is also the headquarters of the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is named after Chamaraja Wodeyar IX , king of Mysore, who was born in the town...
district of southern Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
,
The park stretches over 874 square kilometres (337.5 sq mi), protecting the wildlife of Karnataka
Wildlife of Karnataka
The state of Karnataka located in South India has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. It has a recorded forest area of 38720 km² which constitutes 20.19% of the total geographical area of the state.. These forests support 25% of the elephant population and 15% of the tiger population of India...
. Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park
Nagarhole National Park
Nagarhole National Park , also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located from Mysore in Karnataka in South India. It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest...
(643 km² (248.3 sq mi)), Mudumalai National Park
Mudumalai National Park
The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil:முதுமலை வனவிலங்கு காப்பகம், now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills , in Nilgiri District, about north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with...
(320 km² (123.6 sq mi)) and Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km² (132.8 sq mi)), it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totaling 2183 km² (842.9 sq mi).
It is notable as the home to around seventy Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
s and over three thousand Indian elephant
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
s (in 1997 ) Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is an International Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats, Nilgiri Hills range of South India. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster , conjoining the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World...
.
The Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km²), including all of Bandipur National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Committee
World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee establishes the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties...
for selection as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
•BANDIPURA. ( Chamarajanagar dt; Gundlupet tq;)
•Bandipura is in Hangala hobli, 19 km from Gundlupet, 80 km from Mysore and 220 km from Bangalore, on the Mysore-Ooty road..
•It is a beautiful tourist spot and considered as one of the best wild life sanctuaries in the country. It is a national park covering an area of about 874 sq.km and has been selected in 1974 as Project Tiger area to protect and increase the tiger population.
•It is a dwelling place for wild animals like elephant, tiger, panther, sambar, wild boar jackal, squirrel, gaur, barking deer, langur etc.
•Among birds, robbins, jungle fowl, tits, bulbils, partridges warbles, peacocks, pigeons etc.
•Flora of the forest are teak,dindal, honne, matti, nerale, tadsal and bamboos.
•A number of tanks and streams are the water sources for animals. There are vehicles and riding elephants to carry the tourists into the sanctuary. A number of cottages and dormitories for the visitors to stay are also there at the entrance of the park.
( Source: Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983)
History
A sanctuarySanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
of 90 km² (34.7 sq mi) was created at this site in the Bandipur Reserve Forest
Reserve forest
You may be looking for forest reserve, a generic term associated with protected forest areas, which is also used as a specific term for protected forests in some countries...
in 1931. As it was realised that this was too small for effective wildlife conservation, leading to the instituting of the Venugopala Wildlife Park at this site, extending over 800 km² (308.9 sq mi). The Bandipur Tiger Reserve was established under Project Tiger
Project Tiger
Project Tiger was launched in 1972 in India. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the people. The selection of areas for the reserves represented as close as possible the...
in 1973 by carving out 880 km² (339.8 sq mi) from the Wildlife Park. This park has boasted a constant rise in Tiger population since then. It is also famous for Sandalwood
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
trees and rare species of Flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
.
Geography
Bandipur National Park is located between 75° 12’ 17” E to 76° 51’ 32” E and 11° 35’ 34” N to 11° 57’ 02” N. Altitude of BNP is between 680 metres (2,231 ft) - 1454 metres (4,770.3 ft) and is situated south of the Kabini river at the foothills of the Western GhatsWestern Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
.The rivers Kabini, Nagur and Moyar flow through the reserve. Winter minimum temperature is 10 degrees C., Summer maximum 28 degrees. The park is open throughout the year but the best time to visit is in monsoon from June to September when wildlife is plenty and forest is green. Greenery is quite lean when viewed from road but gets thicker as we proceed into the forest.
Flora
There are several species of valuable timber trees including: TeakTeak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
Tectona grandis, Rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia latifolia is an economically important timber species native to low elevation tropical monsoon forests of eastern India...
, Sandlewood (Santalum album) (V
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
), Indian-laurel Terminalia tomentosa, Indian Kino Tree Pterocarpus marsupium, giant clumping bamboo
Dendrocalamus
Dendrocalamus is a tropical genus of giant clumping bamboo, which are similar to the genus Bambusa. With about 29 species, this genus is found from the Indian subcontinent throughout Southeast Asia...
Dendrocalamus strictus, clumping bamboo
Bambusa
Bambusa is a large genus of clumping bamboos. These species are usually giant ones, with numerous branches at a node and one or two much larger than the rest...
Bambusa arundinacea and Grewia tiliaefolia.
There are also several notable flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs including: Kadam tree
Adina Cordifolia
Haldina cordifolia, syn. Adina cordifolia, also known as Kadam or Kadamba in Hindi, is a flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is native to southern Asia, from India and Sri Lanka east to southern China and Vietnam.It is a deciduous tree that can grow...
Adina cordifolia, Indian gooseberry Emblica officinalis, Crape-myrtle
Crape-myrtle
Lagerstroemia , commonly known as Crape myrtle or Crepe myrtle, is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia and parts of Oceania, cultivated in warmer climates around the world. It is a member of...
Lagerstroemia lanceolata, axlewood
Anogeissus latifolia
Anogeissus latifolia is a species of small to medium-sized tree native to the India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Its common names are axlewood , bakli, dhau, dhawa, dhawra, or dhaora , takhian-nu , and raam .It is one of the most useful trees in India...
Anogeissus latifolia, Black Myrobalan
Terminalia chebula
Terminalia chebula is a species of Terminalia, native to southern Asia from India and Nepal east to southwestern China , and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam.It is a deciduous tree growing to tall, with a trunk up to in diameter...
Terminalia chebula, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, Flame of the Forest
Butea monosperma
Butea monosperma is a species of Butea native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia...
Butea monosperma, Golden Shower Tree
Golden Shower Tree
Cassia fistula, known as the golden shower tree and other names, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka. It is the national tree of Thailand, and its flower is Thailand's national flower...
Cassia fistula, satinwood
Chloroxylon
Chloroxylon swietenia is a tropical hardwood, the sole species in the genus Chloroxylon...
Chloroxylon swetenia, Black Cutch
Acacia catechu
Acacia catechu also commonly called Mimosa catechu, is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to in height. The plant is called khair in Hindi, and kachu in Malay, hence the name was Latinized to "catechu" in Linnaean taxonomy, as the type-species from which the extracts cutch and catechu are...
Acacia catechu, Shorea talura
Shorea roxburghii
Shorea roxburghii is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is a tree found in Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References in Place Names:...
(E
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
), indigoberry
Randia (plant)
Randia, commonly known as indigoberry, is a mostly neotropical genus of shrubs or small trees in the Rubiaceae. The International Plant Names Index lists a total of 738 names for the genus, synonyms included. Several Australian species have been reassigned to the genus Atractocarpus. These include...
Randia uliginosa
Fauna
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
s in BNP.
Significant numbers of Predator species of Mammals live in BNP including: Tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
, Leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
, Sloth Bear
Sloth Bear
The sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
, Chevrotain
Chevrotain
Chevrotains, also known as mouse deer, are small ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only members of the infraorder Tragulina. There are 10 living species in three genera, but there are also several species only known from fossils...
, Dhole
Dhole
The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
and Hyena
Hyena
Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...
. Prey species of grazing Ungulate
Ungulate
Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...
s including Gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
, Sambar (deer), Chital
Chital
The chital or cheetal , also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is a deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and in small numbers in Pakistan...
, Wild boar, Barking deer and Four-horned Antelope
Four-horned Antelope
The Four-horned Antelope , or Chousingha, is a small antelope found in open forest in India and Nepal. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Tetracerus.-Description:...
are common in B.N.P.
Large Mammal Census, Bandipur National Park
| species | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger | 58 | 66 | 74 | 75 |
| Leopard | 51 | 81 | 86 | 88 |
| Elephant | 1107 | 2214 | 2214 | 3471 |
| Gaur | 1097 | 1373 | 1373 | 2427 |
| Dhole | 148 | 181 | 181 | |
| Chital | 3333 | 5858 | 5858 | 8204 |
| Sambar | 706 | 1196 | 1196 | 2386 |
| Slothbear | 51 | 66 | 66 | |
| Four-horned antelope | 14 | |||
| Langur | 1468 | 1751 | 1751 | |
| Wild boar | 148 | 181 | 181 | |
| Muntjac | 72 | 131 | 131 |
Threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
:
Birds: Grey Junglefowl
Grey Junglefowl
The Grey Junglefowl , also known as Sonnerat's Junglefowl, is a wild relative of domestic fowl that is endemic to India. This species is found mainly in peninsular India and where it overlaps with the distribution of the Red Junglefowl, it is known to form hybrids...
, Pompadour Green Pigeon
Pompadour Green Pigeon
The Pompadour Green Pigeon is a pigeon in the genus Treron. It is widespread in forests of southern and southeast Asia...
, Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
The European Honey Buzzard , is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers....
, Red-headed Vulture
Red-headed Vulture
The Red-headed Vulture , also known as the Asian King Vulture, Indian Black Vulture or Pondicherry Vulture,-Description:...
, Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae.Grey-headed Fish Eagle breeds in southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Southeast asia...
, Brown Hawk Owl
Brown Hawk Owl
The Brown Hawk-Owl is an owl which is a resident breeder in south Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to western Indonesia and south China....
, Bay Owl
Bay Owl
The bay owls are barn owls of the genus Phodilus, subfamily Phodilinae. Most classification schemes recognize two species in this genus: the Oriental Bay Owl and the Congo Bay Owl ....
, Malabar Trogon
Malabar Trogon
The Malabar Trogon is a species of bird in the trogon family. It is found in the forests of Sri Lanka and peninsular India. In India it is mainly found in the Western Ghats, hill forests of central India and in parts of the Eastern Ghats...
, Nilgiri Flycatcher
Nilgiri Flycatcher
The Nilgiri Flycatcher is an Old World flycatcher with a very restricted range in the hills of southern India. It has a colour similar to that of the Verditer Flycatcher which is a winter visitor to the Nilgiris but lacks the dark lores of that species...
, Malabar Pied Hornbill
Malabar Pied Hornbill
The Malabar Pied Hornbill is a hornbill. Hornbills are a family of tropical near-passerine birds found in the Old World....
, Little Spiderhunter
Little Spiderhunter
The Little Spiderhunter is a species of long-billed nectar feeding bird in the Nectariniidae family found in the moist forests of South and Southeast Asia. Unlike typical sunbirds, males and females are very similar in plumage...
, Peacock
Peafowl
Peafowl are two Asiatic species of flying birds in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae, best known for the male's extravagant eye-spotted tail, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen, and the offspring peachicks. The adult female...
, Plain Flowerpecker
Plain Flowerpecker
The Nilgiri Flowerpecker is a tiny bird in the flowerpecker family. Formerly a subspecies of what used to be termed as the Plain Flowerpecker although that name is now reserved for Dicaeum minullum. Like others of the group, it feeds predominantly on nectar and fruits...
and Woolly-necked Stork
Woolly-necked Stork
The Woolly-necked Stork or White necked stork , Ciconia episcopus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It can also be known as the Espiscopos....
can be seen at B.N.P..
Reptiles: King Cobra, Common Cobra, Python, Adder, Viper, Rat Snake, Water Snake, Marsh Crocodile, Lizard, Chameleon, Monitor Lizard, Frog, Tree frog, Toad and Tortoise.
Insects
Butterflies: Common Rose, Crimson Rose, Common Jay, Tailed, Lime Butterfly, Malabar Raven, Common Mormon, Red Helen, Blue Mormon, Southern Birdwing, Common Wanderer, Mottled Emigrant, Common Grass Yellow, Spotless Grass Yellow, One spot Grass Yellow, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, Common Jezebel, Psyche, Common Gull., Caper White or Pioneer, Small Orange Tip or Lesser Orange Tip, White Orange Tip, Large Salmon Arab, Common Evening Brown, Great Evening Brown, Common Palmfly, Common Bushbrown, Glad Eye Bushbrowm, Red Disk Bushbrown, Red Eye Bushbrown, Lepcha Bushbrown, Nigger, Common Threering, Common Fourring, Common Fivering, Tawny Coster, Rustic , Common Leopard, Indian Fritillary, Common Sailer, Colour Sergeant, Chestnutstreaked Sailer, Grey Count, Red Baron or Baronet, Angled Castor, Common Castor Aridane merione, Yellow Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Peacock Pansy, Chocolate Pansy, Orange Pansy, Blue Pansy, Grey Pansy, Blue Admiral, Glassy Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Striped Tiger/ Common Tiger, Danaid Eggfly, Great Eggfly, Common Crow, Brown King Crow, Common Pierrot, Angled Pierrot, Banded Blue Pierrot, Striped Pierrot, Dark Pierrot, Red Pierrot, Lime Blue, Zebra Blue, Gram Blue, Common Cerulean, Tiny Grass Blue, Dark Grass Blue, Indian Cupid, Large Four-Line Blue, Common Silverline, Plum Judy, Plain Scupid, Pea Blue, Metallic Cerulean, Chestnut Bob, Dark Palm Dart, Brown awl
Ants:Anenictus sp1, Anoplolepis longipes,Camponotus parius, Crematogaster biroi, Crematogaster sp 1*, Crematogaster sp 2*, Diacamma rugosum, Lepisiota capensis,Leptogenys chinesis, Leptogenys coonorensis, Leptogenys diminuta, Lophomyrmex quadripinosus, Meranoplus bicolor, Monomorium indicum, Myrmicaria striata, Myrmicaria brunnea, Oligomyrmex wroughtonii, Pachycondyla sp1*, Paratrechina sp1*, Pheidole sharpi, Pheidole sp1*, Pheidole sp2*, Pheidologeton diverus, Polyrhachis exercita, Solenopsis geminate, Tetraponera rufonigra, Tetraponera sp1* (* New species yet to be identified.)
Dung Beetles:Catharsius granulatus *, Copris indicus *, Oniticellus cinctus*, Onitis singhalensis *, Onthophagus beesoni*, Onthophagus ensifer *, Onthophagus rana *, Onthophagus sp.107* #, Onthophagus tarandus*, Picnopanaleus rotundus, Caccobius diminutives, Caccobius ultor, Copris furciceps, Copris sp.1#, Heliocopris dominus, Pseudonthophagus sp.2#, Sisyphus neglectus, Caccobius inermis, Caccobius meridionalis., Caccobius torticornis, Caccobius sp.1#, Copris sodalist, Onthophagus socialis, Onthophagus sp.301#, Onitis phelemon, Onthophagus furcillifer, Caccobius gallinus, Onthophagus rufulgens, Onthophagus sp.302#, Copris repertus, Pseudonthophagus sp.1#, Copris davisoni, Onitis falcatus, Onthophagus turbatus, Copris imitans, Onthophagus quadridentatus, Caccobius vulcanus, Liatongus affinis, Oniticellus spinipes, Sisyphus longipus, Onthophagus dama (* Eextremely rare (Represented by a by a single specimen in the collection), # New species yet to be identified.
Conflicts and Threats
For farmers in the 200 villages along the Bandipur forest periphery, the National Park is a vast pasture for grazing cattle and for collection of firewood and other forest produce. The reserve holds nearly 1.50 lakh cattle. The Nugu wildlife sanctuary and Himavad Gopalaswamy range located in the north-west of the park are the most cattle infested.There are fears of possible transmission of diseases from cattle to wildlife. In 1968, large numbers of gaur were killed in an outbreak of rinderpest
Rinderpest
Rinderpest was an infectious viral disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and some other species of even-toed ungulates, including buffaloes, large antelopes and deer, giraffes, wildebeests and warthogs. After a global eradication campaign, the last confirmed case of rinderpest was diagnosed in 2001...
. Lantana
Lantana
Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both...
bush introduced by British in 19th century in tea gardens has spread rapidly at the cost of other valuable herbs and saplings. This bush is thorny, attracts mosquitoes, is not eaten by any herbivores and rapid spread has caused other species of fauna to vanish which is staple food for wild life. Rapid spread of Parthenium
Parthenium
Parthenium is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. The name is derived from either the Greek word παρθένος , meaning "virgin," or παρθένιον , an ancient name for a plant. Members of the genus are commonly known as feverfew. Notable species include Guayule and P...
(Parthenium hysterophorus) has severely damaged bio-diversity and typical landscapes of this beautiful jungle is making way for this invasive weed.
Elephants which traditionally migrate from dry to moist zones now increasingly come into contact with human habitations and farms are often damaged. Sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
crops are particularly attractive to them.
The National Highway 212 ( NH-212 ) passes through Bandipur national park . This road has been a major concern as speeding vehicles have killed many wild animals in spite of frequent warnings to travelers from the forest department officials and restriction on movement of vehicles in some stretches between 9 P.M to 6 A.M. This has raised fears of extinction of habitat of wild animals exclusively found in this national park..