Description

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Context:

The Kalaburagi district administration and the Forest Department have begun persuading residents ensconced in Sheribikanahalli Tanda (hamlet) located deep inside the dry-land Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary on the Karnataka- Telangana border.

About Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary

Attribute	Details
Location	Kalburgi district, North Karnataka.
Establishment	Declared as a sanctuary in 2011
Significance	· First terrestrial nature reserve in South India · Also known as "Ooty of Telangana"
Key Features	Chandrampalli Dam and four small dams in its center
Tribal Community	Lambani Tandas - a protected tribal community living in the forests
Flora	· Dry deciduous and moist deciduous forest in the core · Acacia and teak plantations on the fringes · Medicinal herbs, sandalwood, and red sandstone are also present.
Fauna	Mammals: Black Buck, Red Fox, Four Horned Antelope, Bat, Hyena, Indian Wolf
Avifauna	More than 35 bird species, including: · Black Drongo · Black-winged Grebe · Flower-headed Parakeet · Blue Pigeon · Black-headed Oriole · Gray Partridge

National Parks/Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka

Protected Area	Key Features	Major Flora	Major Fauna	Threats
Anshi National Park / Kali Tiger Reserve	Deciduous & montane rainforest; on Kali River; part of Dandeli WLS; Project Tiger Reserve.	Cinnamon, bamboo, eucalyptus	Elephant (EN), Bengal tiger (EN), black panther (VU), Malabar civet, Malabar giant squirrel.	Tourism, mining.
Bandipur National Park	Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; Kabini River separates it from Nagarhole.	Teak, rosewood, sandalwood	Indian elephant, gaur, tiger, sloth bear, chital, dhole.	Speeding vehicles, cattle grazing, deforestation, invasive species.
Bannerghatta National Park	Elephant corridor between Biligirirangana Hills & Sathyamangalam forest.	Sandalwood, bamboo, eucalyptus	Elephant, Bengal tiger, gaur, leopard, sloth bear, Indian gazelle.	Illegal granite mining.
Bhadra Tiger Reserve	Near Baba Budangiri hills; Hebbe & Manikyadhara Falls nearby.	Kadam, teak, rosewood	Tiger, lion-tailed macaque (EN), leopard, Malabar giant squirrel.	Mining, tourism, tribal activities.
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve	Connects Eastern & Western Ghats; critical for gene flow.	Evergreen, deciduous, grasslands	Wild elephants, tiger, gaur, sambhar, chital.	Quarrying, poaching.
Kudremukh National Park	Tunga & Bhadra Rivers; shola grasslands; proposed part of Bhadra Tiger Reserve.	Rosewood, teak	Malabar civet, lion-tailed macaque (EN), bonnet macaque.	Iron ore mining, tourism.
Nagarhole National Park	Foothills of Western Ghats; Important Bird Area; Jenu Kuruba tribe inhabits.	Rosewood, teak, bamboo	Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, chital, gaur, marsh crocodile.	Poaching, tourism, forest fragmentation.
Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary	Western Ghats; only known breeding site of Wroughton’s free-tailed bat (CR).	NA	Wroughton’s free-tailed bat (CR).	Mining, habitat degradation.
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary	Contiguous with BR Hills, Sathyamangalam TR; Mekedatu & Hogenakal Falls.	NA	Tiger, elephant, Malabar giant squirrel, grizzled giant squirrel.	Habitat fragmentation.
Daroji Bear Wildlife Sanctuary	Near Hampi; preserves sloth bears.	NA	Sloth bear (VU).	Habitat degradation.
Ranganathittu Wildlife Sanctuary	Largest bird sanctuary in Karnataka; Pakshi Kashi; islets on Cauvery River.	NA	Painted stork, Asian openbill, mugger crocodile, otter.	Flooding from KRS dam.
Sharavathi Valley WLS	Jog Falls; Sharavathi River; Linganamakki Reservoir.	NA	NA	Habitat loss.
Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary	Source of Cauvery River; on Brahmagiri hills.	NA	NA	Habitat degradation.
Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary	India’s first vulture sanctuary.	NA	Long-billed vulture (CR), Egyptian vulture (EN), white-rumped vulture (CR).	Habitat loss.
Yadahalli Chinkara WLS	First Chinkara sanctuary in Karnataka.	NA	Chinkara (LC).	Habitat loss.
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary	Western Ghats; Kumara Parvatha peak (1,712 m); waterfalls.	NA	Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri marten, lion-tailed macaque (EN).	Tourism, habitat loss.

READ ABOUT IN DETAILS

Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary UPSC

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is located in the Kalburgi district of North Karnataka and was declared a sanctuary in 2011.
The sanctuary is known for its large population of tigers and elephants.
The sanctuary is home to the Lambani Tandas, a protected tribal community.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kalburgi district, North Karnataka, and was declared a sanctuary in 2011.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The sanctuary is not known for a large population of tigers and elephants. It is known for species like the Black Buck, Red Fox, and Indian Wolf, but not for a significant population of tigers and elephants.

Statement 3 is correct: The sanctuary is home to the Lambani Tandas, a protected tribal community living in the forests. Chandrampalli Dam and four small dams are important features of the sanctuary.