About Nagarhole National
Park:
Nagarhole
national park (NNP), the enchanting 247
square-mile park in Karnataka
has an astonishing abundance of wildlife
including large mammals such as tiger, leopard,
wild elephant, dhole (Indian wild dog), and gaur
(Indian bison).
|
 |
 |
Other species present are chital spotted deer,
muntjac (barking deer), mouse deer, four-horned
antelope, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena,
mongoose, civet, otter, and more. The landscape
is one of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. Dry
deciduous forest trees are leafless in the
summer rather than in the winter. There are
grassy swamps where the soil is clayey,
perennially moist, and which support a luxuriant
growth of green grass all year. The change in
terrain throughout the park in refreshing and
the river system provides a unique wildlife
viewing experience.i.
|
Nagarhole National Park derives
its name from the combination of two Kannada
words. 'Nagar,' meaning snake, and 'hole,'
meaning streams. True to its name, quite a few
serpentine streams fork through the rich
tropical forests of the park. Nagarhole Park was
set up in 1955. In 1975, its area was increased
to include a greater expanse of forest reserve.
The original forest was once an exclusive
hunting ground for the erstwhile Maharajas of
Mysore. The park has been recently renamed as
Rajiv Gandhi NationalPark after the late Prime
Minister of India.
Nagarhole National Park is
counted among India. s best wildlife parks. It
has a large elephant and bison population. It
also hosts a variety of animal species along
with approximately 250 species of birds. On its
northern confines is the Kabini River and on its
southern fringes is the Bandipur national park.
A dam on the Kabini River and
its picturesque reservoir demarcates the two
national parks. During the dry season (February.
June), this artificial lake attracts a large
number of animals, making it an ideal spot for
sighting wildlife.
Climate in
Nagarhole National Park:
The summer (March. May) temperature does not
cross the 33°C mark. The brief winter, which
lasts from November to January, has temperature
plummeting to 14°C. Monsoon is erratic, but it
generally rains from June to September.
Flora in
Nagarhole National Park:
The predominant vegetation in the Nagarhole
National Park is of southern tropical, moist,
mixed deciduous type with a substantial eastern
portion intergrading into dry deciduous type.
The upper tree canpy is dominated by Terminalia
tomentosa is association with Tectonia grandis,
Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium,
Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Anogeissus latifolia,
Adina cordifolia, Boambax malabaricum,
Schleichera trijuga, Ficus sp. and others. The
lower canopy has Kydia calycina, Emblica
officinalis, Gmelina arborea etc. Several shrubs
belonging to Solanum, Desmodium and Helicteres
sp. etc. are abundantly found but weedy shrubs
like Eupatorium and Lantana now dominate.
Fauna in
Nagarhole National Park:
The important predators and carnivora in the
Nagarhole National Park are tiger, leopard, wild
dog (dhole or Cuon alpinus), sloth bear and the
hyena (Hyaena hyaena). The herbivores are
spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, four-horned
antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), gaur (Bos
gaurus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and elephant.
Nagarhole National Park provides an opportunity
to see some of the southern population of Gaur
(jungle Bison). Also, this park in Karnataka is
a good place to see elephants in the luxuriant
forests and bamboo thickets which they most
enjoy. Their total population in southern India
is now about 6500,nearly all living in the area
where Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala adjoin in
the shadow of the Western Ghats.
|
Click Here for Indian Wildlife
tour Packages
|
