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Photograph by Dr Manoj C. Sindhgi, A.R.P.S.

Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary
(32 km from Chikmagalur)

The southern stretches of the Western Ghats are one of the most ecologically exciting and bio-diverse places in India. The combination of tropical moist mixed deciduous forest, tropical dry deciduous forest, and semi-evergreen shola forest—with their rich supply of trees, bamboo, plants and fodder—makes the region an ecological wonderland.

Covering an area of 492 square kilometres, the Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary) lies in the crescent shaped hollow formed by the Baba Budan mountain range, surrounded by hills, waterfalls and the beautiful Bhadra river and its tributaries.

The sanctuary comprises the Muthodi area, lying inside the crescent, and the Lakkavalli area, spread across the northern outer slopes of the Baba Budan mountains. The sanctuary was brought under Project Tiger in 1998. While the sanctuary is open throughout the year, the best season for spotting animals is between October and February.


	Tiger, Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is home to a profusion of animals, birds, fish, frogs, reptiles, insects, fungi, trees, plants and flowers. Wildlife found at the Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary include: Mammals: Tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, elephant, gaur, sloth bear, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, slender loris and the Malabar giant squirrel. Birds: Over 250 species of birds, including the ruby-throated bulbul, shama, Malabar whistling thrush, four species of hornbill, racquet-tailed drongo and the paradise flycatcher. Reptiles: Marsh crocodile, flying lizard, monitor lizard and a variety of snakes.

It is estimated that 35% of the plants, 42% of the fish, 48% of the reptiles and 75% of the amphibians that thrive in the Western Ghats are endemic, or native, to the region. It's worth noting that the frog Nasikabatrachus sahyadrenis was discovered here in 2003—and is classified as a living fossil.