Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary

News: High Court of Karnataka has directed State government to issue a further notification to include the left-out areas of the Kappatagudda reserve forest as part of the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Gadag district of Karnataka.
• It is described as the “Western Ghats of North Karnataka” due to its rich biodiversity.
• Area: It covers an area of about 244 sq. km.
• Established in: 2019
• River associated: Tungabhadra River forms southern boundary of the sanctuary.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous forests, grasslands, scrublands, and riverine ecosystems
• Flora: It hosts diverse flora including teak, Butea monosperma, acacia scrub, and native grasses, along with around 400 medicinal plant species.
• Fauna: The sanctuary is home to various mammals such as langurs, spotted deer, barking deer, leopards, Indian wolves, and striped hyenas, gray wolves, jungle cats, and several antelope species.
  • Over 180 bird species have been recorded, with some rare sightings like the White-naped Tit.
• Historical and cultural significance: It features ancient temples such as Kappatagudda Jain Basadiand and ruins from the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties.
  • It also hosts notable monuments such as the Brahma Jinalaya Jain temple, Trikuteshwara Temple, and the 12th-century Dambala Temple built in the Western Chalukyan style.