Important Facts For Prelims
Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
- 01 Feb 2020
- 2 min read
- Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Western Ghats of Karnataka (Udupi & Shimoga districts).
- The Western Ghats are on India’s World Heritage sites list.
- It is named after the Someshwara temple located within the sanctuary.
- The sanctuary is mostly made up of evergreen forests, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
- It is situated very close to the Kudremukh National Park.
- Sitanadi river flows through the sanctuary.
- Some Endangered species are found viz; Lion Tailed Macaque, Tiger, Dhole (wild dog).
Lion-tailed Macaque
- It is endemic to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Although the species has a relatively wide range, its area of occupancy is small and severely fragmented.
- Primarily diurnal arboreal, it prefers the upper canopy of primary tropical evergreen rainforest.
- It can also be found in monsoon forests in hilly country and in disturbed forest.
- Protected areas:
- Kudremukh National Park (Karnataka)
- Periyar National Park (Kerala)
- Silent Valley National Park (Kerala)
- Threats:
- Habitat loss and degradation - deforestation, agriculture, logging leads to a scarcity of the fruit on which the Macaque feed, which is particularly devastating.
- Creation of exotic plantations such as tea, eucalyptus and coffee.
- Hunting
- Pet trade
- Habitat loss and degradation - deforestation, agriculture, logging leads to a scarcity of the fruit on which the Macaque feed, which is particularly devastating.
- Conservation and Protection:
- IUCN Red list: Endangered.
- It is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
- It is protected under Schedule I, Part I, of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972