The Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary located in Kodagu district in Karnataka was formed in 1987 and occupies an area of 105 sq km. The sanctuary named Talacauvery after the Cauvery river, which originates here lies between the longitudes 12o17'15.32"E to 12o26'37.1"E and latitudes 75o25'23.38"N to 75o33'15.26"N. Elevation in this sanctuary varies from 99-1,659 m and annual rainfall received is around 3,861 mm. Water sources for this sanctuary include Nadmale Hole, Betemale Hole, Kume Kolli, tributaries of Perambatte Puzha, Mundra Hole and several perennial and seasonal streams (Lal et al. 1994).

Over 300 species of higher plants endemic to the Western Ghats thrive in this sanctuary. This area consists mainly of tropical evergreen forests with species such as Hopea parviflora, Canarium strictum and Hydonocarpus whitiana. In the lower storeys, bamboos and species like Strobilanthes, Leea sambucina and Pandanus can be found. In the mixed deciduous forests the tree species found include Terminalia paniculata, Tectonia grandis, Dalbergia latifolia, Grewia tilaefolia and Terminalia tomentosa. In the understorey there is dense foliage of woody climbers, canes and ferns. At low altitudes, trees in the evergreen forests include Dipterocarpus indicus, Kingiodendrum pinnatum and Humboldtia brunonis. At high altitudes, tree species like Mesua ferrea and Palaquium ellipticum are predominant. Shola grasslands can be found in the higher reaches of this sanctuary (Pascal et al. 1982).

Flagship species like Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and tigers (Panthera tigris) occur in these forests. Most of the large and small mammals found in other protected areas of the Western Ghats can be found here too. Mammalian inhabitants of the sanctuary include jackals (Canis aureus), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), red giant flying squirrels (Petaurista petaurista), lion-tailed macaques(Macaca silenus), leopards (Panthera pardus) and wild pig (Sus scrofa) (Lal et al. 1994, Shivanand and Ahmed 2004, MoEF Report 2006).

Recognised as an Important Bird Area nearly 62 species of birds have been seen in this sanctuary including 'Vulnerable' species like the Niligiri wood-pigeon (Columba elphinstonii), white-bellied shortwing (Brachypteryx major), broad-tailed grass warbler (Schoenicola platyara) and 'Near threatened' species like the grey-breasted laughingthrush (Garrulax jerdoni), black and orange flycatcher (Ficedula nigrorufa) and Nilgiri flycatcher (Eumyias albicaudata). As many as 13 of the 16 bird species endemic to the Western Ghats are found here. They include bird species like the blue-winged parakeet (Psittacula columboides), white-bellied flycatcher (Cyornis pallipes) and white- bellied treepie (Dendrocitta leucogastra) (Lal et al. 1994, Shivanand and Ahmed 2004, MoEF Report 2006).

Species of reptiles seen here include common cobra (Naja naja), olive keelback (Atretium schistosum), Indian rock python (Python molurus) and rat snake (Ptyas mucosus) (Lal et al. 1994, Shivanand and Ahmed 2004, MoEF Report 2006).

Monoculture plantations of coffee and cardamom scattered around this sanctuary have seriously altered the natural vegetative cover. Besides this, an increased invasion of the exotic weed Eupatorium species within the sanctuary and especially in the regions surrounding previously clear-felled areas is another important cause of biodiversity loss (Lal et al. 1994, Shivanand and Ahmed 2004, MoEF Report 2006).

References

Islam, M. Z and Rahmani, A. R. 2004. Important bird areas in India: Priority sites for conservation. Indian Bird Conservation Network: Bombay Natural History Society and Birdlife International, UK. 1133 pp.

Lal, R., Kothari, A., Pande, P and Singh, S (eds).1994. Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary featured. In: Directory of national parks and sanctuaries in Karnataka: Management status and profiles. Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, India. pp 170-173.

Menon, V. 2003. A field guide to Indian mammals. DK (India) Pvt Ltd and Penguin Book India (P) Ltd. 201 pp.

MoEF. 2006. India's Tentative List of Natural Heritage Properties to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO, Paris, France.

Pascal, J.P., Shyam Sundar, S and Meher-Homji, V.M.1982. Forest map of South India: Mercara-Mysore. French Institute, Pondicherry, India.

Shivanand, T and Ahmed A. 2004. Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary. In: Important Bird Areas in India: Priority sites for conservation. (Islam, M. Z and Rahmani, A. R).Indian Bird Conservation Network: Bombay Natural History Society and Birdlife International, UK. pp 595-596.