Karnataka has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Karnataka has a recorded forest area of 38720 sq km 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. Talacauvery and Kudremukh which are located in Karnataka are in the tentative list of sites that could be designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The animals and birds, that can be found in each bird/wildlife sanctuary in karnataka are listed here.
Adichunchanagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mandya district and is spread over 0.88 square kilometres (0.34 sq mi). This was created mainly for the conservation of peacocks. It also houses nearly 250 species of birds.
Attiveri Bird Sanctuary
Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is a village in the Mundgod taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It lies 15 km from Mundgod and 43 km from Hubli-Dharwad. Spread over an area of about 2.23 km2, the sanctuary is located in and around the Attiveri reservoir. The part of the sanctuary surrounding the reservoir has riverine and deciduous forests.
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mysore district and is spread over 13.5 square kilometres (5.2 sq mi). This park consists of eucalyptus and sandalwood plantations. Leopard, fox and spotted deer are some of the animal species found here. Also around 230 species of birds have been observed here over the years.
Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary
Karnataka has two peacock sanctuaries, one at Adichunchanagiri and an other at Bankapura fort. Bankapur Peacock sanctuary is in side the Bankapura Fort in Bankapura in Haveri District. The peacock sanctuary in Bankapur[2] is the only second sanctuary in the country that is exclusively engaged in the conservation and breeding of peacocks. Understanding the great presence of peacocks in the region, the Government of India declared Bankapura as a peacock sanctuary on June 9, 2006. Any visitor to this sanctuary will not return without seeing a flock of peacock, our national bird, happily dancing in the sprawling sanctuary, without a care in the world. This sanctuary is situated on 139 acres of land which has the remains of the historic Bankapura Fort. The high mound and deep trenches of the land have provided a perfect home for these birds. The sanctuary is located on the cattle breeding farm which was set up in 1919 after the First World War. The farm is located in 90 acres (360,000 m2), out of the total 139 acres (0.56 km2) of the sanctuary. According to a rough estimate, there are more than 1,000 peacocks and peahen in the sanctuary. Bankpura Fort is home for not only for peafowl, but also a number of other birds like wood pecker, great-horned owl, babbler, magpie, robin, green bee eater, nightjar, spotted maina, paradise flycatcher, Indian robin, spotted dove, parakeets, kingfisher, grey hornbill, blue tailed bee eater, blacked winged kite, tailor bird etc.
Bonal Bird Sanctuary
Bonal Bird Sanctuary sometimes spelled as Bohnal Bird Sanctuary is bird sanctuary and wetland near Bonal village in the Shorapur taluk of Yadgir district in Karnataka state, India. It is the second largest bird sanctuary in the state, after Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary in Mysore, and around 21 species of birds have been recorded here, including purple heron, white-necked stork, white ibis, black ibis, brahminy duck, and bar-headed goose. The sanctuary has its origins in the Bonal tank, a water conservation tank built by the 17th century ruler of Shorapur, Pam Naik, later during the British Raj, Meadows Taylor, the British administrator at Shorapur, extended it to 1,600 acres with 12 feet average depth, as he mentions in his autobiography, The Story of My Life. It was one of largest amongst the twelve such water tanks built in the drought prone region, and gradually started attracting migratory birds. Most of these tanks were using were also used for fishing, and numerous families were dependent on it. In 1998, heeding to calls by conservationists, the state government transferred the area to the Forest Department from the Fisheries Department. Subsequently fishing was banned the tank, but it took many more years before it was formally declared a bird sanctuary.
Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Western Ghats, in Khanapur Taluk of Belgaum District near Jamboti Village, Karnataka state, India. This 19,042.58 ha (73.5238 sq mi) of Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests forest area was long awaiting to be a wild life sanctuary and finally declared in December 2011. The Bhimgad forests are notable for the Barapede caves, the only known breeding area of the Wroughton's free-tailed bat, a threatened species on the verge of extinction. The sanctuary is also home to other rare species of flora and fauna. The area takes its name from the Bhimgad Fort which was built and commanded by Shivaji in the 17th century. It is located in the heart of the forest valley, Built by Shivaji to defend from the Portuguese troops who controlled Goa that time, rises 1800 ft near vertically above the plains. The fort occupied the summit of an extraordinary rock, with sides about 300 ft (91 m) in perpendicular height. The defenses were almost entirely natural, requiring little additional construction. The ruins of the 380-ft high and 825-ft broad Bhimgad fort are located right in the heart of the forest, and is of great historical significance.
Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary
Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Chamarajanagar district and is spread over 539.58 square kilometres (208.33 sq mi). Some of the species of flora found here are Anogeissus latifolia, Grewia Tilaefolia and Syzygium cumini. Species of mammals include elephants, tigers, leopards, sloth bear, gaur, barking deer and sambar. Among the 215 species of birds found here include Nilgiri wood pigeon, Malabar whistling thrush, yellow-throated bulbul, peregrine falcon, rufousbellied hawk eagle. An endangered amphibian, Icthyophis ghytinosus' has been reported in this sanctuary.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is located between the Chikkamagaluru and Shimoga districts and is spread over 492.46 square kilometres (190.14 sq mi). Common species of flora include Lagerstromia Lanceolata, Adina cordifolia and Careya arborea. Mammals include tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, slender loris and pangolin. Among the bird species found here are rubythroated bulbul, shama, Malabar whistling thrush and paradise flycatcher.
The Biligirirangana Hills, commonly called B R Hills, is a hill range situated in south-eastern Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu (Erode District) in South India. The area is called Biligiriranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or simply BRT Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a protected reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Being at the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, the sanctuary is home to eco-systems that are unique to both the mountain ranges. The site was declared a Tiger Reserve in January 2011 by the Karnataka government, a few months after approval from India's National Tiger Conservation Authority. The hills are located at the easternmost edge of the Western Ghats and support diverse flora and fauna in view of the various habitat types supported. A wildlife sanctuary of 322.4 square kilometres (124.5 sq mi) was created around the temple on 27 June 1974, and enlarged to 539.52 square kilometres (208.31 sq mi) on 14 January 1987. The sanctuary derives its name Biligiri (Kannada for white rock) from the white rock face that constitutes the major hill crowned with the temple of Lord Rangaswamy or from the white mist and the silver clouds that cover these hills for a greater part of the year. The hills are in the Yelandur, Kollegal and Chamarajanagar talukas of Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka. They are contiguous with hills in Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Erode District of Tamil Nadu to the south. By road, they are about 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Mysore and 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Bangalore. The road leading to the village on top of the hills may be approached either from Yelandur or Chamarajanagar.
Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kodagu district and is spread over an area of 181.80 square kilometres (70.19 sq mi). The evergreen forests in this sanctuary include species like Cinnamomum zeylancium, Cedrela toona and Alstonia scholaris. Bamboos are dominant here and include species like Bambusa bambos and Dendrocalamus strictus. Mammals include elephant, gaur, tiger, jungle cat, bonnet macaque and Nilgiri marten. Also around 300 species of birds have been observed here over the years.
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across the districts of Bangalore, Mysore and Mandya and is spread over 102.59 square kilometres (39.61 sq mi). Dry deciduous trees found in this park include species like Terminalia arjuna and Syzgium cumini. Animal species found in this park include leopard, elephant, sambar and common otter. This is also one of the last refuge of the highly endangered grizzled giant squirrel in Karnataka. Also around 300 species of birds have been observed here over the years. This sanctuary is also famous for mahseer fish.
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Uttara Kannada district and is spread over 475.02 square kilometres (183.41 sq mi). Common tree species found here are Dalbergia latifolia, Terminalia paniculata, T. Tomentosa and vitex altissima. Mammal species include elephant, gaur, wild pig, slender loris, Malabar giant squirrel and barking deer.
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is located in Bellary district and is spread over 55.87 square kilometres (21.57 sq mi). This sanctuary was mainly created for the preservation of sloth bears.
Ghataprabha Wildlife Sanctuary
This is located in Belgaum district and is spread over 20.78 square kilometres (8.02 sq mi). This sanctuary is known for migratory birds like demoiselle crane and European white stork. The sanctuary is surrounded by agricultural fields and the best time to visit the place is between November and March, when most of the migratory bird species nest there.
Gudavi Bird Sanctuary
Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is located in the Sorab taluk of Sagara Subdivision in the Indian state of Karnataka. Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is located on the Banavasi Road in Gudavi of Sorab Taluk which is 16 km from Sorab town. The bird sanctuary is one of the best five of Karnataka. It is spread over an area of 0.74 square km. As per survey, 217 different species of birds belonging to 48 families are found at this place. A natural lake and the trees gives shelter to this birds. The picturesque Gudavi Lake with trees all along its banks is a beautiful sight in itself. It is a small seasonal lake and is filled with water mostly in the rainy season. Various avian species migrate from across the globe in different seasons for breeding. A platform is built for bird watchers to have a closer look at the birds.
Jayamangali blackbuck reserve
Jayamangali (formerly Maidenahalli) Blackbuck Conservation Reserve is Tumkur district's only notified protected area. It neighbours Maidenahalli, a small village in Madhugiri Taluk, at the north-eastern tip of Tumkur district of Karnataka. This area is a part of the plains of Deccan plateau and borders Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is a 798-acre (3.23 km2) patch of grassland.It has the largest contiguous population of blackbuck in Karnataka, apart from Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary.
Kaggaladu Heronry
The Kaggaladu Bird Sanctuary is the second largest painted storks sanctuary in South Asia, right after KokkareBellur. The place is a must visit for bird watchers, as the beautiful birds can be seen nesting in the region all through the peak season. The season starts in February and runs through till August. In August you can see the remaining few birds, or as the locals say, the lazy birds! Kaggaladu is a village in the Sira Taluk of Tumkur District. The storks are important to the villagers, here, and in order to preserve their natural habitat, tamrind trees are mainted for the birds to roost and nest on.
Kokkare Bellur Pelicanry
Kokkare Bellur - Bird Sanctuary, Wildlife getaway from bangalore, WildTrails of India - "Aggregator App for Your Wildlife Trip" (We are an Aggregator App, bringing all of Indian wildlife & Nature resorts into one place to help YOU find your ideal destination/resort based on your personal preferences!! Will aggregate Wildlife/Nature Resorts, National parks, (bird & animal) Sanctuaries, Tiger & Elephant reserves, Organized photographic oriented wildlife tours, Camera, Lens & related equipment Rentals, Cab/Car Rentals, Photography Workshops, info about Indian Animals & birds, Tourist Guides and lot more. Currently we are covering Bandipur, Nagarhole (Kabini & Coorg), Coorg & Bird Sanctuaries close to Bangalore.)
This place is famous for its Spot Billed Pelicans and the Painted Storks that can be sighted here in vast numbers during season time. This scenic village has paddy fields, cattle, water, and lots of exotic birds. The village is in the Maddur Taluka of the Mandya district of Karnataka. Kokkare is the local name for 'Painted Storks' that are very famous in this region, 'Bellur' meaning village of jaggery (raw sugar from sugarcane); hence, the village has derived its name from the bird. The village thrives on the bird's droppings, which are called 'guano', as they are rich in potassium. The villagers use these bird droppings as manure for their cultivation. Indeed, the villagers believe that the birds bring in good luck and prosperity. That is the beauty of this place the birds love the habitat and the people love the birds! The district abounds in sugarcane fields and this village is famous for having large colonies of Spot-billed Pelicans and Painted Storks nesting in trees within the village.
Magadi Bird Sanctuary
Magadi Bird Sanctuary created at the Magadi tank, it is one of the biodiversity hotspots of Karnataka. The Magadi tank is located in Magadi village of Shirhatti Taluk, Gadag District. (Please note that this is not the same magadi that is close to Bangalore) From Gadag it is 26 km, it is located on Gadag-Bangalore Road, from Shirhatti it is 8 km, and from Lakshmeshwar 11 km. The bar-headed goose is one of the birds which migrate to Magadi wetlands. Normally birds eat fish, amphibians, molluscs, snakes etc., but migratory birds eating agricultural produce is both interesting and curious too. In the winter it feeds on barley, rice and wheat and may damage crops.
Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary
Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is located at a distance of 30 km from Shimoga on the way to Theerthahalli from Shimoga. Though Mandagadde Bird sanctuary is not considered one of the biggest of the bird sanctuaries of Karnataka, it is a habitat for a variety of birds. Mandagadde bird sanctuary is one of the few bird sanctuaries in the Malnad region which is spread about 1.14 acres and surrounded by dense forest. This picnic spot houses some of the spectacular migratory birds. A small island is formed by the flowing river Tunga, and the dense of trees on the island provide shelter for immigrating birds. The birds like Median Egret, Little Cormonant, darter or snake-bird etc., comes from different parts of the world during May for breeding. The breeding cycle will be completed by October and the migrated birds return home with their young ones.
Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary
Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mandya district and is spread over 45.82 square kilometres (17.69 sq mi). An endangered species of flora, Cycas circinalis is found here. Mammal species include wolf, leopard, blackbuck and pangolin. Also around 230 species[13] of birds have been observed here over the years.
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Udupi district and is spread over 247 square kilometres (95 sq mi). Some of the tree species found here are Dipterocarpus indicus, Calophyllum tomentosum and Hopea parviflora. An endangered species of climber Coscinium fenestratum has been recorded here. Slender loris, lion-tailed macaque, sambar and chital are some of the animals found here. The endangered cane turtle is also found here.
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mysore district and is spread over 30.32 square kilometres (11.71 sq mi). Common species of flora include Emblica officinalis, Santalum album and Dendrocalamus strictus. Mammals include elephant, gaur, leopard, spotted deer and common palm civet.
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Heggadadevanakote Taluk of Mysore district and comprises of Lakshmanapura State Forest and adjacent revenue lands this sanctuary is situated north of Bandipur National Park. This small sanctuary with an area of 30.32 Sq.Km. has not yet been opened for tourist. The backwaters of Nugu dam forms the part of the Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary and lies on the western side of the sanctuary.
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kodagu district and is spread over 102.59 square kilometres (39.61 sq mi). Some species of flora found here are Hopea parviflora, Schefflera capitata, Xanthalis tomentosa and Ochlandra rheedii. Mammals include elephant, tiger, slender loris, Nilgiri marten and bonnet macaque. Also around 230 species of birds have been observed here over the years. Bird species include Great pied hornbill, Malabar trogon and Nilgiri blackbird.
Ramanagar Vulture Sanctuary
Karnataka's only vulture sanctuary is present near Ramnagar at Ramadevara pada and has up to 25 critically-endangered Long-billed vultures (Gyps indicus). The 346.41 hectares of hillock area, part of a reserve forest, was declared a sanctuary on January 30, 2012 and chain-link fencing was done. The hill gets its name from the temple dedicated to Lord Rama which is situated atop this hill. The hill Ramadevara pada, along with Savandurga was one of the shooting locations for David Lean's A Passage to India. Small door like grottoes were made in the rock to resemble caves. It was also in this region that the path-breaking Hindi movie, Sholay, was shot.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Ranganthitthu bird sanctuary, Wildlife getaway from bangalore, WildTrails of India - "Aggregator App for Your Wildlife Trip" (We are an Aggregator App, bringing all of Indian wildlife & Nature resorts into one place to help YOU find your ideal destination/resort based on your personal preferences!! Will aggregate Wildlife/Nature Resorts, National parks, (bird & animal) Sanctuaries, Tiger & Elephant reserves, Organized photographic oriented wildlife tours, Camera, Lens & related equipment Rentals, Cab/Car Rentals, Photography Workshops, info about Indian Animals & birds, Tourist Guides and lot more. Currently we are covering Bandipur, Nagarhole (Kabini & Coorg), Coorg & Bird Sanctuaries close to Bangalore.)
The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is situated at 4 Kms. from Srirangapatna and 19 Kms. from Mysore. The Bird Sanctuary is named after Sri Ranganatha Swamy, an incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu. It is an island on the river Cauvery and it is spread on an area of 40 acres. The Sanctuary includes six islands and was declared a bird sanctuary in 1940. This is an important nesting and breeding ground for the thousands of bird species. It witnesses the arrival of a large number of migratory birds of different flocks from as far as Siberia, North America and Australia. The migratory birds start arriving in December and the breeding season starts during the winter months and they finally migrate back with their nestlings in August. The islands host numerous mammals and migratory birds. Ranger-guided boat tours of the islands are available throughout the day, and are a good way to watch birds, crocodiles, otters and bats.
Rannibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary
Rannibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary is located in Haveri district and is spread over 119.00 square kilometres (45.95 sq mi). Eucalyptus are the dominant species of trees found here. Cassia fistula, Prosopsis julifora and Zizyhus Mauritania are other tree species found here. This sanctuary was created mainly for the conservation of blackbucks. This sanctuary is also a habitat for the endangered Great Indian Bustard.
Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Shimoga district and is spread over 431.23 square kilometres (166.50 sq mi). Dipterocarpus indicus, Caryota urens and Dillenia pentagyna are some of the species of flora found here. Tiger, leopard, mouse deer, bonnet macaque and common langur are some of the animal species found here. Snakes are commonly found here. Paradise flycatcher, racket-tailed drongo and bluethroated barbet are some of the bird species found here.
Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary
Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Shimoga district and is spread over 395.60 square kilometres (152.74 sq mi). Cassia fistula, Kydia calycina and Wrightia tinctoria are some of the species of flora found here. Tiger, leopard, bonnet macaque and Malabar giant squirrel are some of the animal species found here.
Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Udupi district and is spread over 88.40 square kilometres (34.13 sq mi). Machilus Macrantha, Lophopetalum wightanium and Artocarpus hirsuta are some of the species of flora found here. Tiger, leopard, lion-tailed macaque and spotted deer are some of the animal species found here.
Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary
Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kodagu district and is spread over 105.00 square kilometres (40.54 sq mi). Albizzia lebbek, Artocarpus lakoocha, Dysoxylum malabaricum and Mesua ferrea are some of the species of flora found here. Clawless otter, elephant, tiger, striped necked mongoose and mouse deer are some of the animal species found here. Also around 300 species of birds have been observed here over the years. Fairy bluebird, Malabar trogon and broadbiller roller are some of the avian species found.
As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the forest department has named 40 animals who are in the brink of extinction in Karnataka. This list includes Black buck, Wild Dog, Elephants, Indian brown mongoose, Kolar-leaf nosed bat, Lion-tailed Macau, Tiger, Sloth bear, Travancore flying squirrel, Spotted eagle, India vulture, Tree frog and Travancore tortoise.
Karnataka Wildlife Travel & Tour - Forest Tourism Department in Karnataka - Karnataka Wildlife Resorts - Karnataka Wildlife Tourism Map
Name of the Sanctuary
Best Season
Nearest Railway Station
Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary Mandya | Area: 0.84 Sq. km
All Seasons
Mandya (90 km), Bangalore (120 km)
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary Area: 13.50 Sq. km | Mysore
Dec to Feb
K R Nagar (13 km), Mysore (27)
Attiveri Bird Sanctuary Area: 2.23 Sq. km | Uttara Kannada
