Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary

November 11, 2022

The Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary was notified recently by the state government of Tamil Nadu. The state government had earlier notified Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary and Dugong Conservation Reserve.

About the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary

An area in the reserve forests of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri have been notified as the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary.
The declaration was made under the Section 26A(1) (b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
This will be the 17^th wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
The newly notified wildlife sanctuary spans an area of 686.406 sq. km.
It is home to 35 mammal species and 238 bird species. It hosts Leith’s soft shelled turtles, smooth coated otters, marsh crocodile and four horned antelopes.

Significance

The Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary connects the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu with the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.
This creates a large, contiguous network of protected areas for wildlife in Cauvery River Basin.
It also creates further continuity to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve via the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Billigiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve of Karnataka and the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and Erode Forest Division of Tamil Nadu.
The newly notified sanctuary is an important elephant habitat. It hosts two elephant corridors – the Nandimangalam-Ulibanda Corridor and the Kovaipallam-Anebiddahalla Corridor.
Ecosystem conservation of Cauvery basin critical for the protection of riverine species that are dependent on Cauvery River.
Grizzled giant squirrel, four-horned antelope, and Lesser Fish Eagle are exclusively reliant on the Cauvery River and its riverine forest ecosystem. They are currently in dire need of protection from extinction.
Conservation efforts in this region will ensure the protection and restoration of habitat, minimisation of soil erosion and siltation of downstream Stanley Reservoir.
Improvement of habitat in the sanctuary will increase prey base for tigers living in the nearby protected areas.

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