Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News ? The Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar taluk, Karnataka, has become the center of tensions following the arrest and subsequent bail of farmers accused of entering the sanctuary with country-made weapons. The situation has raised concerns about human-wildlife conflicts in the region.

About Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary:

Location and Geography:

• Situated in the Sharavathi River Valley, Sagar taluk, Shivamogga District, Karnataka.
• Part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Covers an area of approximately 431.23 sq. km, with the Linganamakki reservoir spanning 124 sq. km.
• Formed by merging the Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, and adjacent reserve forests.
• Shares its southwestern boundary with the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Terrain varies from 94 m to 1,102 m in altitude, making it highly undulating.

Vegetation:

The sanctuary comprises diverse forest types:

• Tropical Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen Forests.
• Moist Deciduous Forests.
• Grasslands and savannas.

Flora:

The sanctuary boasts a rich variety of plant species, including:

• Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, and Nandi.

Fauna:

• The sanctuary serves as a critical habitat for various wildlife species, particularly the endangered lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), endemic to the Western Ghats.

Other notable fauna include:

• Mammals: Tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig.
• Primates: Common langur, bonnet macaque.
• Rodents: Malabar giant squirrel.