Nagarhole National Park [UPSC Notes]

Nagarhole National Park derives its name from the Kannada words ‘Naga’ and ‘Hole’ meaning snake and streams respectively. This park was set up in the year 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary and received the status of a National Park in 1988. In this article, you will learn about Nagarhole National Park, an important topic for the IAS exam.

Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole National Park, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, is located in Kodagu and Mysore districts in Karnataka. This national park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – the first biosphere reserve established in 1986.

• The park is located to the northwest of Bandipur National Park.
• Nagarhole National park covers an area of about 643 square kilometres (core).
• A dam of the Kabini river along with its reservoir separates the Nagarhole National Park from the Bandipur National Park.
• The Kabini backwaters with their fertile banks attract between 600-800 elephants during the peak summer months in a normal year which is the largest congregation of Asian elephants.
• A small river, Nagarhole meanders within the habitat before joining the Kabini river.
• Nagarhole National Park along with the adjoining Bandipur National Park, Mudumalai National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) forms the largest protected area in Southern India (~2183 sq. km).

Tiger Status of Nagarhole National Park

The park was declared the 37th Tiger Reserve of India in 1999.

• Nagarhole has a high tiger density, it is estimated to be 11.82 per 100 sq. km which is first in the state of Karnataka and 3rd highest in the country after Corbett and Kaziranga Tiger Reserves respectively. 

Flora of Nagarhole National Park

The dry eastern limits of the park have dry deciduous forests. Towards the west, with the increase in rainfall, the vegetation changes to tropical moist and semi-evergreen forests.

Fauna of Nagarhole National Park 

There is a rich faunal diversity and a large number of species exists – mammals (~32), birds (~300), reptiles (~32), amphibians (~13) and fishes (~10).

• The three endangered top carnivores – tiger, leopard and wild dog (dholes) co-exist at higher density.
• Asian elephants, Indian mouse deer, gaur, stripe-necked and ruddy mongooses, civet cats, hyenas, and sloth bears are amongst the other animals that are found in the park. 

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