KAPPATGUDDA (GADAG) " A study by Coimbatore-based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) has revealed the existence of rich fauna in Kappatagudda, where some firms are now keen on getting mining leases.
According to the study, Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary is now home to 18 mammals, including wolves, hyenas and antelopes. This sanctuary, which witnessed notifications and de-notifications for mining, has now been left undisturbed by the state government due to local people’s movement.
The study ‘Denotified and notified protected area: Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary and its importance for conservation of mammals in the Deccan Plateau of Karnataka: India’ by Santanu Mahato, Honnavalli N Kumara and S Babu, SACON, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), South India Centre, and others have found rare dryland mammals and endangered birds here. The study stated that the habitat is lost due to diversion of land without assessing its biodiversity and its impact. The team, which studied the region for more than 1,000 days, said there are three major antelopes in the region.
“Many landscapes of the Deccan Plateau have been neglected for research for their biodiversity. Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) is one among them – neglected due to lack of information about its biodiversity and awareness on its importance. Using 20 camera traps for 1,035 nights, we recorded 18 species of mammals – antelopes, four-horned antelopes, chinkaras and blackbucks. This is the only place where we have found three species of antelopes,” HN Kumara, principal scientist, Conservation Biology, SACON, who headed the study, told TNIE.
The study said blackbucks are confined to the plains, chinkaras to the slopes and four-horned antelopes to hilltops. Chinkaras were found in Karnataka a decade ago.
Kappataguda a haven of medicinal plants too
Carnivores such as gray wolves, striped hyenas, leopards and golden jackals are in good numbers. Small carnivores such as jungle cats, rusty-spotted cats, small Indian civets, common palm civets, ruddy mongooses, and Indian gray mongooses also exist.
“Among the 18 species here, 16 are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, highlighting the importance of the Kappatagudda. Spread across 244.15 sq km in Gadag district with 17,872 ha of hills, the team surveyed 138 sq km in Gadag, Mundargi and Shirahatti taluks,” the study said.
The forest has about 400 medicinal plant species. It experiences high velocity wind throughout the year. Because of this, several windmills here generate over 225 MW of energy. The sanctuary faces pressure from locals, who graze cattle, and collect firewood and minor forest produce from there.