Rapid Fire
Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary
- 06 Mar 2026
- 3 min read
The Karnataka High Court directed the State government to formally include an arbitrarily omitted 55 sq. km reserve forest area into the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary located in Gadag district, Karnataka, restoring it to its originally approved size.
- The court prioritized ecological conservation by dismissing petitions from stone-crushing units operating within the sanctuary's Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
- Wildlife Sanctuary: A Wildlife Sanctuary is an area within a reserved forest or territorial waters declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitats due to their ecological, faunal, floral, or geomorphological importance.
Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary
- Unique Conservation Goal: It holds the rare distinction of being the only Wildlife Sanctuary in the state declared specifically for the conservation of wild flora, safeguarding a vast endemic gene pool of medicinal herbs and grasses.
- Ecosystem and Landscape: Often referred to as the “Western Ghats of North Karnataka” due to its rich biodiversity and ecological importance.
- Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary is a classic example of a dryland ecosystem, predominantly featuring scrub jungles and grasslands, alongside patches of dry deciduous and riverine forests in its depressions and valleys.
- Hydrological Significance: It acts as a crucial watershed, serving as the major catchment area for the River Tungabhadra.
- Faunal Diversity: Despite its dry terrain, it hosts a rich variety of wildlife including Leopards, Indian Wolves, Striped Hyenas, Blackbucks, and Four-Horned Antelopes, bridging the gap between lesser and greater carnivores.
- Ecological Threats: The habitat is highly fragmented and faces severe anthropogenic pressures such as habitat encroachment, overgrazing, illegal firewood collection, and poaching.
| Read more: Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area |
