Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary – The Pristine Forest Jewel of Mysore

Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary

The Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Mysore district, to the north of the famous Bandipur National Park. Covering an area of 30.32 sq km, it is a small but ecologically significant protected area. Nugu was notified as a wildlife sanctuary relatively recently, on 9 March 1998.

The sanctuary comprises the Lakshmanapura State Forest and adjacent revenue lands. The Nugu reservoir forms the western boundary of the sanctuary, while the southern tip touches the Alaganchi State Forest that is part of the Bandipur National Park.

During summer, when the reservoir level recedes, vast grasslands emerge along the foreshore area. This temporary availability of fodder and water attracts migrating elephants from the adjoining Bandipur forests. Thus, the small Nugu Sanctuary plays an important role in supporting the larger conservation aims of the region.

Location

The Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Heggadadevanakote Taluk of Mysore district in Karnataka. It is located about 60 kms from Mysore city and 30 kms from Nanjanagud town. The sanctuary lies to the north of the famous Bandipur National Park, with its south western boundary touching the Bandipur forests. It is approachable through all-weather roads from Mysore, Gundlupet. The nearest railhead at Nanjanagud.

Flora

The habitat types found in the sanctuary include open dry deciduous forests and tropical mixed deciduous forests. These forest types are characteristic of the Western Ghats biographic zone which Nugu forms a part of.

Some of the prominent tree species found here are Silver Oak and Coffee. The understory would comprise various shrubs, climbers, grasses and herbs typical of dry and moist deciduous habitats.

Trees like Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia spp., Dalbergia spp. indicating degraded forests that are slowly recovering in the sanctuary. Invasive species like Lantana and Eupatorium are also spreading in certain areas.

The small area of Nugu Sanctuary harbors a range of vegetation types and floral diversity characteristic of the larger Bandipur-Nagarhole landscape that forms a vital lifeline between wildlife rich forests of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Fauna

The sanctuary harbors a wide variety of wildlife species.

Mammals

Prominent mammal species found here include carnivores like Leopard, Dhole, Golden Jackal, along with herbivores such as Gaur, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer. Some rare species recorded from the area are Lion-Tailed Macaque, Sloth Bear and Malabar Giant Squirrel. Other mammals include Common Langur.

Birds

The list of birds is also impressive, including forest species like Malabar Trogon, Great Hornbill, Malabar Whistling Thrush and Imperial Pigeon. The adjoining grasslands and reservoir would attract numerous waterbirds during winter.

Reptiles

Reptilian diversity is high as well, with species like Mugger Crocodile, Star Tortoise, Indian Monitor Lizard, Skinks and Indian Cobra recorded from the sanctuary. In short, Nugu provides critical habitat for a wide variety of floral and faunal species, despite its small area.

Conclusion

Despite encompassing a small area of just 30.32 sq km, the Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is a critical protected area from an ecological perspective. As described earlier, it supports a wide variety of flora and fauna including species like Sloth Bear, Leopard and Malabar Giant Squirrel.

The sanctuary provides an extension of habitat contiguous with the larger Bandipur landscape. It helps maintain wildlife corridors used by migrating elephants and other animals.