Tumakuru's Environment & Heritage Issues

The rich wildlife of Madhugiri Tumkur District's Madhugiri taluk, in south-eastern Karnataka, is of great interest to wildlife lovers. The habitats here range from dry deciduous forests in Madhugiri State Forest to the famous grasslands of Jayamangali Conservation Reserve near Maidanahalli village, which has one of Karnataka's healthiest single population of blackbuck. The hills to the south of and west of Madhugiri town are well-known for their sloth bears. For the past few years, WANC is working to bring these reserve and revenue forests along with those around Channarayana Durga hill, under the umbrella of a Conservation Reserve or Wildlife Sanctuary. View Larger Map We rushed to the spot and it was almost 8.00 PM. We reached a well that was completely dry and without fencing. We saw three sloth bears - one adult female and two baby bears. The animals looked a little dehydrated and tired. It is peak summer in this part of the world and ...

As told, with his pictures, by: Mr.TVN Murthy Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District, Karnataka and Founder Advisor, WANC, Tumkur. Email : tvnmurthy at vsnl dot com ©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved)  ---------------- Dear Friends, It was yet another incident of Sloth bear being trapped by the farmers at Pandithanahalli near Hirehalli of Tumkur Taluk. It is common in Tumkur district for farmers to set up traps to catch wildboars that venture into farm land for food. This was unfortunate for a well built adult male sloth bear on the night of 20 July 2009. It was trying to cross the barbed wire fence of a farm land near TVS Electronics at Pandithanahalli. The trap hooked the front leg of the bear sometime during night and the animal was crying for help after that. ©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved)  Early morning on 21 July, the local forest department officials and WANC took a local veterinary doctor to release the animal. The animal was sedat...

As told, with his pictures, by TVN Murthy Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District, Karnataka and  Founder Advisor, WANC, Tumkur.  Email: tvnmurthy@vsnl.com Dear Friends, On Feb 20, 2009, I received an unusual call from residents of Devalapura village, near Madhugiri Town, in south-eastern Karnataka, at half past eight and rushed to the spot. I could hear howls of a bear from almost half a KM from where it seemed to be located. On reaching the place, I saw an entire village watching in apprehension a Sloth bear. It was trapped up a Jackfruit tree.  ©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved)  ©TVN Murthy (All rights reserved)  The problem Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is quite common around Madhugiri in Tumkur District. Many villagers encounter this animal in early hours and at dusk. I have heard many reports of attack on human in this area. During the recent by-elections to Madhugiri Assembly constituency, a sloth bear mother wit...