Adventure & Wildlife Magazine - Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 | Page 11

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
ducks, kites, eagles, falcons, quails, partridges, wildfowl,
lapwings, sandpipers, pigeons, doves, parakeets, cuckoos,
owls, nightjars, swifts,kingfishers, bee-eaters and munias.
Reptiles like marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris),
Indian pond terrapin, starred tortoise (Geochelone
elegans), common Indian monitor (Varanus
bengalensis), Indian chameleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus),
skinks (Mabuya spp.), geckos (Hemidactylus), common
rat snake (Ptyas mucosus), Indian cobra (Naja naja),
Russell’s viper (Daboia russelli), common krait (Bungarus
caeruleus), Indian python (Python molurus), checkered
keelback, green whip snake, common Indian bronzeback
(Dendrelaphis tristis) and trinket snake (Elaphe helena)
are found here.
Bannerughatta National Park

It is located in Bengaluru district and covers over 115
km 2 of area. Altitude varies from 740 metres (2,428 ft) to
1,034 metres (3,392 ft), temperature from 20° to 35 °C
and the average annual rainfall is 700 millimetres (28 in).
India’s tiger reserves and became a part of Project •Flora: The area has dry deciduous forests and
Tiger. In 1974, intention was declared under the Indian thorny scrub, with patches of moist deciduous
forests along the streams. Tree species in the park include
Wildlife Protection Act to notify it as a national park.
Anogeissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosae, Terminalia
•Flora: The scrub jungles towards the eastern limits tomentosa, Terminalia arjuna, Grewia tilaefolia,
of the park consist of stunted trees, interspersed with Santalum album, Shorea talura, Emblica officinalis,
bushes and open grassy patches. Towards its north- Vitex altissima, Wrightia tinctoria, Randia sp., Ziziphus
western fringes, there is a gradual shift in the sp. and Albizzia sp.. Bamboos are common in the park, the
vegetation from open dry deciduous forests to tropical dominant species being Dendrocalamus strictus. A small
mixed deciduous forests. These diverse habitats support area of the park has plantations of Eucalyptus, Bauhinia
purpurea, Samanea saman and Peltophorum
an enormous diversity of animal life.
pterocarpum.
•Fauna: The mammals found here are Indian elephant
(Elephas maximus indicus), gaur (Bos gaurus), sambar
(Cervus unicolor), chital or spotted deer (Axis axis),
muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) or barking deer, mouse
deer (Moschiola indica), bonnet macaque (Macaca
radiata), slender loris (Loris tardigradus), red giant
flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), Bengal tiger
(Panthera tigris), Indian leopard (Panthera pardus),
common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus),
small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), sloth bear
(Melursus ursinus), dhole or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon
alpinus), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), golden jackal
(Canis aureus), ruddy mongoose (Herpestes smithii),
smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), Indian
pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).
•Fauna:Mammals in the park include Indian leopard,
gaur, Indian elephant, golden jackal, fox, wild boar, sloth
bear, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, common langur,
bonnet macaque, Indian crested porcupine and hare. A
Bengal tiger has recently been sighted in the park.
Kudremukh National Park
Spread over an area of 600.32 km 2 it encompasses
regions in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and
Chikmagalur. Altitude varies from 134 metres (440 ft) to
1,892 metres (6,207 ft). The park has a pleasant climate,
with temperatures ranging from 17° to 28 °C. Annual
rainfall varies from 1,778 mm(70 in) to 6,350 mm (250
in), with an average of 4,000 mm (157 in). The rivers
Among the 230 species of birds identified here, some Nethravati, Tunga and Bhadra are believed to originate
of the important groups include herons, storks, egrets, here at Ganga Moola.
Vol 1|Issue 5-6|Nov 16 - Jan 17
11