Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary

• 01 Feb 2020

• 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
• 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

Source: TH