Save Shettihalli WLS

Western Ghats mountains rich with different kind ofvegetation and topographical forest ranges cover a length ofaround 1600km (8° to 22° N, 73° to 78 °E) running through ageographical area of about 160,000 km2 of Gujarat, Maharashtra,Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala states finally terminates atKanyakumari in the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula. Thisregion is highly rich with flora and fauna and is considered asone of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world. The range offorest ranging from tropical wet evergreen forests to grassland isa repository of rich flora and fauna. The stretch of centralWestern Ghats ranges from 12° to 15° covering areas of Coorgdistrict, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Shimoga up to South of UttaraKannada.

Shimoga district of Karnataka state is situated in the heartof the Western Ghats. The malnad region consists of Western Ghatschain from where many rivers originate and inland plain region ofDeccan plateau. Shimoga is the “Malenada Thavaruru” because ofrivers like Sharavathi, Thunga, Bhadra, Kumadvathi etc. areflowing across.

Shimoga, a malnad district of Karnataka state with a

geographical area of 8477 km2 is situated in the mid-south-westernpart of the state at 13°27' and 14°39'N and 74°37' and 75°52'E(Shimoga district statistics, 2011). The district is bounded byUttara Kannada district on the northwestern side, Udupi on thesouth-western side, Chikmagalur district on the south and southeastern side, Davanagere district on the eastern side and Haveridistrict on the north eastern side. The greater part of thedistrict lies in the malnad region and consists of valleys andhill ranges sloping west to east with a maximum altitude of 640and 529m and has the sanctuaries like Sharavathi Valley Wild LifeSanctuary, Gudavi Bird Sanctuary and Shettihalli Wild LifeSanctuary. The malnad region is characterized by mountains withheavy rainfall in the Agumbe, Hulikal, kollur, kodachadri ghats toaverage rainfall in the southern parts of the Ghats.

Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary is come under the part ofthese Ghats, established in the year 1974. Major part of thesanctuary with reddish to brownish clayey loamto lateritic soilwith highly permeable and having neutral pH value and strips ofyellowish loamy soil are seen along the banks of major river andnalas courses. This sanctuary flourished in the past in the mineslike Iron ore, Manganese ore, Lime-stone, Chromite, Buildingstones and levitated clay.

The Sanctuary has a rich and varied flora, the majorcontributing factors to this variety being differences in rainfalland topography within the sanctuary. In the region of the WesternGhats, the rainfall is heavy, Agumbe/Hulikal getting an annualaverage rainfall of 8,275.7mm. As one proceeds to the east, therainfall decreases very rapidly of about 600mm. Therefore, a rapidtransition from evergreen flora to the scrub type, i.e., frommesophytic to xerophytic, occurs as one move from the west to theeast. Magnificent evergreen flora covers a narrow belt in theWestern Ghats and it gradually merges into the moist deciduoustowards the east and south. The Shettihalli WLS consist ofEvergreen, Semi-Evergreen, Deciduous and moist/dry-Deciduous typeof forests.

The Shettihalli WLS with a spatial extent of 395.6 Sq.km isspread over parts of three thaluks of Shimoga district: Shimoga,Hosanagara and Thirthahalli thaluks (Figure 1). It is situatedbetween 13° 40' to 14° 5' N and 75° 10' to 75° 35' E (Karnatakaforest department, 2006). The vegetation in the region mainlyconsist of dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen and somepart evergreen types. This Sanctuary was constituted under thegovernment notification No.Afd.47.F.W.L.74 dt 31st October 1974 andlegally declared as Shettihalli WLS on 23rd Nov 1974. Afterdeclaration of Shettihalli WLS, protection and developmentactivities towards better management of wildlife had beeninitiated by wildlife wing of forest department.

Figure1. Shettihalli WLSThe Sanctuary was protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act

1972 by Government of India to provide for the protection of wildanimals, birds and plants and with a view to ensuring theecological and environmental security of the country.

The Sanctuary covered as:North: From Ayanur along the southern portion of Ayanur-Hosnagara

road upto Rippenpet running from East to West.South: From Konandur the boundaries of Rippenpet, Hanagere and Thirthahalli range forest area upto Mandagadde running from West to East.West: From Rippenpet along eastern portion of Rippenpet-Tirthahalli road including Mugudthi state forest upto Konandur which runs north to South.South-East: From Mandagadde along the western portion of Shimoga running from South to North-East: Starting from Shimoga, the line runs along the westernportion of Bangalore-Honnavar road upto Ayanur (Karnataka forest Department, 2006)

The overall area of the sanctuary is plain to undulating witha few pockets consisting of very steep and undulating terrains andhillocks. These consist of perennial nalas and a number of smallstreams. The highest peak is Shankargudda with an altitude of 1031meters. The Sanctuary receives rainfall from south west monsoon.The intensity of rainfall is more during June to September with anaverage rainfall of 2000mm. The average minimum and maximumtemperature are 12° C and 38º C respectively (Karnataka forestDepartment, 2006).

During early 20th century the forest within Sanctuary wereunder the control of previously state of Mysore. For bettermanagement of forests and wildlife these forests were declared as‘protected forests’ during 1905-1920. Table 1 details the spatialextent of forests in Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Table 1: Forests in Shettihalli wildlife sanctuary

Name of Forest Extent (inHa)

Hanagere RF 6755.0Kudi RF 2730.0Harohitlu RF 1795.00Masaruru RF-Block vii 1,2,3,6,7,8,9 1060.0

Kumadhwathi RF 3817.0Baruve RF- vii 12 to 14 807.0

Mugudthi RF 194.0Anesara RF 1819.0Puradal RF 2591.0Shankar RF 9330.0Sacrebyle RF 3886.0Arakere MF 368.0Anupinakatte MF 497.0Basavapure MF-XII 1 317.0Bedankalmatti MF-XII 2,3 693.0Keegadi MF-XIII 20 144.0Talale MF-XIV13 242.0Kullunde MF-XIV14 204.0Halasavala MF- XIV10 325.0Kanagalakoppa MF- XIV11 150.0Mandagadde MF-XIV8 223.0Bommenahalli XIV15 50.0Mandagatta MF 942.0Kittanduru MF VIII23 294.0Bide MF VIII24 209.0Muniyur MF VIII 25 332.0Anupinakatte Pltn 87.0Sacrebyle Pltn 100.0TOTAL 39560.00

During 1960-1965 Linganamakki reservoir was constructed forSharavathi river valley, which led to submersion of many villages.The people affected by this Hydro-Electric project were shiftedfrom protected area and allowed to settle in Shettihalli WildlifeSanctuary (Protected area). In this way more settlements ofrehabilitated village come into existent in the sanctuary leadingto encroachment and clearing of forests.

The flora and fauna of the forest has rich during the time ofrehabilitated villages but years passed due to human habitationinside the protected area, many of the rich wild flora and faunago on decreasing either by poaching or due to forest encroachment

and even most of the flora of the forest used by humans and nalasand streams for their agricultural purposes and many more.

The mammalian fauna of the sanctuary includes Tigers,Leopards, Wild Dogs (Dholes) wild Elephants, Indian Gaur, Sambar,Spotted Deer, Muntjac (Barking Deer), Chevrotain (Mouse Deer),Wild Pig, Porcupine, Sloth Bear, Jungle Cat, Golden Jackal, BonnetMacaque, Common Langurs, Common Grey Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose,Striped-Necked Mongoose, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Common flyingGiant Squirrel, Common Otter, Indian Flying Fox, Vampire bat,Pangolins, Common Indian Civet and Slender Loris.

Reptiles like Indian Monitor Lizard, King Cobra, Indian RockPython, Rat Snake, Marsh Crocodile, Land Tortoise, Chameleon,Common Krait, Flying Snake, Spectacle Cobra, Flying Lizard,Malabar pit viper, Saw scaled viper, Russell’s viper, Green vinesnake, Bronze backed tree snake, Hump nosed pit viper, Green Keelback, Mountain Keel Back, Checkered Keelback, Common Sand Boa,etc.,

Many variety of birds are seen like Indian Peafowl, GrayJungle Fowl, Red Spur fowls, Painted Francolin, Grey Francolin,Common Quail, Small Button Quail, Indian Gray Hornbill, MalabarGray Hornbill, Pied Hornbill, Rock Pigeons, Mountain ImperialPigeons, Pompadour Green Pigeons(Grey fronted), Yellow LeggedGreen Pigeons, Green Imperial Pigeons, Jungle Crow, Rose-RingedParakeets, Plum-Headed Parakeets, Malabar Blue Winged Parakeets,Alexandrine Parakeets, Verner Hanging Parrot (Indian Lorikeet),Indian Vulture, Brahminy Kite, Pariah Kite, Black Winged(Shouldered) Kite, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Crested Serpent Eagle,Changeable Hawk Eagle, Osprey, Shikra, Indian Common Cuckoo,Common Hawk Cuckoo (Brain fever Bird), Banded Bay Cuckoo, AsianKoel, Small Green Billed Malkoha (Blue-Faced), Greater Coucal(Crow Pheasant), Lesser Coucal, Barn Owl, Brown Fish Owl, JungleOwlet, Spotted Owlet, Indian Nightjar (Grey Nightjar), CommonIndian Nightjar, Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Dove,Eurasian Collared Dove, Emerald Dove, Comb duck, Lesser whistlingduck, Common Teal, River Tern, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Red-vented

Bulbul, White Browed Bulbul, Ruby Throated Yellow Bulbul, YellowBrowed Bulbul, Grey Headed Bulbul, Indian Robin, Magpie Robin,Paradise Flycatcher, Grey Shrike, Rufous-backed Shrike, BrownShrike, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black-naped Oriole, Black-hoodedOriole, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Large Wood Shrike, CommonWood Shrike, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Small Grey Cuckoo Shrike, SmallMinivet, Scarlet Minivet, Rosy Minivet, Greater Racket TailedDrongo, Bronzed Drongo, Spangled Drongo, Black Drongo, AshyDrongo, White Bellied Drongo, Lesser Golden Backed Woodpecker,Speckled Piculet, Small Yellownape Woodpecker, Greater Goldenflame back, Heart Spotted Woodpecker, Pigmy (Brown-Caped)Woodpecker, White Bellied Woodpecker (Indian Great BlackWoodpecker), Yellow Fronted Pied Woodpecker, Rufous woodpecker,Common Myna, Jungle Myna, Hill Myna, Rosy Starling, Grey Headed(Chestnut) starling, White Headed Starling, Indian Treepie, White-bellied Treepie, House Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red-rumpedSwallow, Ashy wood Swallow, Tickles Flower-pecker, CommonKingfisher, Small Blue Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White BreastedWater Hen, Water Cock, Cattle Egret, Intermediate Egret, LargeEgret, Little Cormorant, Greater Cormorant, Darter (Snake Bird),Spot-Billed Duck, Cotton Pigmy-Goose, Indian Pond Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Painted Stork,Asian Open Bill Stork, Wooly Necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork,Greater Adjutant, Bar Headed Goose, Bronze Winged Jacana, PheasantTailed Jacana, Purple Moorhen, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, LittleGrebe, Black-Winged Stilt, Crab Plover, Grey-Headed Lapwing, Red-Wattled Lapwing, Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper, Oriental WhiteIbis (Black Headed Ibis), Red-naped Ibis (Black Ibis), EurasianSpoonbill, House Swift, Crested Tree Swift, Malabar Trogon,Chestnut Headed Bee-eater, Blue Tailed Bee-eater, Little GreenBee-eater, Blue Bearded Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Dollar Bird(Broad-billed Roller), Eurasian Hoopoe, Brown Headed Barbet (LargeGreen Barbet), White Cheeked Barbet, Crimson-fronted (Throated)Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Indian Pitta, Bush Lark, Red-wingedIndian Lark, Common Iora, Golden Fronted Leaf-bird, Asian FairyBlue Bird, Dark-fronted Babbler, Indian Scimitar Babbler, JungleBabbler, Rufous Babbler, Yellow Billed (White Headed) Babbler,Brown-Cheeked Fulvetta, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Nilgiri

Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, White Browed FantailFlycatcher, White Throated Fantail Flycatcher, Black-napedMonarch, Grey breasted Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Jungle Prinia, CommonTailor Bird, White Rumped Shama, Black Redstart, Indian Chat, PiedBushchat, Blue Rock Thrush, Malabar Whistling Thrush, OrangeHeaded Thrush, Grey Tit, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Velvet-frontedNuthatch, Indian Tree Pipit, Forest Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, GreyWagtail, Pied Wagtail, White Browed Wagtail, Thick-billed Flower-pecker, Tickell’s Flower-pecker, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Loten’s Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Little Spider-hunter, Oriental White-eye, Yellow Throated Sparrow (Chestnut-shouldered Petronia), House Sparrow, Baya Weaver, Red Avadavat,White-throated Silverbill (Common Silverbill), White-rumped(backed) Munia, Black-throated Munia, Scaly-breasted (Spotted)Munia, Black-headed Munia, etc. and many variety of amphibians andfishes found in the sanctuary.

(NOTE: Above listed 209 birds those seen in different seasonsand local birds)

The sanctuary has both artificial and natural forests has oftype southern tropical dry deciduous, southern tropical moistdeciduous, semi evergreen and some patch of evergreen. The Thungareservoir bordering the sanctuary shows the availability of water.Sanctuary consists of 11 reserve forests, 14 minor forests and 3plantation areas (Karnataka Forest Department, 2006).

The sanctuary is classified into zones for the bettermanagement of the sanctuary as Core zone as 100.60 Sq.km, Bufferzone as 237.4 Sq.km and Tourism zone as 57.60 Sq.km.

The sanctuary has 32 enclosures and 70 villages inside thesanctuary. The size of the revenue enclosure varies from few household to a maximum of 110 household. 95% of the people aredependent on agriculture. There are about 383 families has 611.18Ha of encroachment before 1978 and 1292 families and 989.43 Haafter 1978 within the sanctuary, totally occupying 1605.61 Ha ofthe forest (Karnataka Forest Department, 2006). But now theencroachment and human habitation is increasing gradually and even

after 2006 there is none of the survey has been done by the forestdepartment. We are losing our old protective Shettihalli wildlifesanctuary. Even if can’t do anything, within 5-10 years, first welose all the wild animals and their habitat and after the forestbecome an agriculture land and human habituated. Still we see somepart of the Shettihalli WLS like Mugudthi, Anesara, Purdal,Anupinakatte, Basavapura, Keegdi, Talale etc. have the facilitieslike Electricity, water and transportation even they come insidethe protected area of the sanctuary. So we losing our ShettihalliWLS under the protection of government can be seen. As perWildlife Protection Act 1972 entry in the reserve forests withoutprior permission can considered as affiance. Then also unknowinglyor deliberately for the purpose of cattle grazing, cultivation,settlements, construction, poaching or for any other agriculturalpurposes human interfering was seen. Because of relatively richand virgin forest soil force the encroachers to open new landannually or for other activities, humans are entering and threatenthe biodiversity of the sanctuary. This was not only causes thehabitat loss of species but also results in the more devastatingeffects through fragmentation and also result in severalecological and economic effects like reduction in forest cover,forest fragmentation, reduction in forest biodiversity, changes invegetation type, curtailment of natural regeneration of theforest, destruction of ecosystem/habitats, species extinction,etc.

This results forest vegetation decreased from 43.83% (1973)to 22.33% (2012) and even more in the current years. The resultshighlight conversion of forests to agriculture, industrial andcascaded development activities acted as major driving forces ofdegradation. Land use changes from forest to non-forest withintensified human interference had been very high. Interior forestdecreased by 13% during 4 decades.

As per our recent data we found birds (209), animals (27),reptiles (21) and amphibians as listed above and yet to be foundmore. If we still not stand for the saving Shettihalli WLS, in

another few years it becomes Shettihalli town with commercial andindustrial developed area.

--Mushtak Pasha2014

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