Shivamogga Wildlife Division, Karnataka Forest Department
Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife sanctuary in the Western GhatsofKarnataka state in India. It is named after the Sharavathi River flowing through the sanctuary. The sanctuary is spread across the forests of Uttara Kannada & Shivamogga districts of Karnataka, Sharavathi Reservoir is present within the sanctuary. The nearest town Sagara is 34 km away and is connected by bus service to Shivamogga, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Bengaluru on a daily basis. The nearest railway station Thalaguppa is 15 Km away, while the nearest airport viz. Mangalore is located about 200 Km from the sanctuary.[1]
The sanctuary was established in 1972 with an area of 431.23 km2 (166.50 sq mi) vide gazette notification "No.AFD-22-FWL-74, dated: 28-06-1978".[2]
It was subsequently expanded to 930.16 km2 (359.14 sq mi) in the year 2019.[3] The sanctuary was expanded by adding the Aghanashini Lion Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve (299.52 km2 (115.65 sq mi))[4] and some of the reserved forests (200 km2 (77 sq mi)) in Uttara Kannada & Shivamogga districts, to the existing sanctuary. After expansion, the sanctuary has been renamed as the Sharavathi Lion Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary.[3]
The expanded sanctuary is aimed at protecting the freshwater habitat of Myristica swamps that hosts many species like Lion Tailed Macaque, Leaf Nosed Bats, Hornbills etc.[5]
