Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, India
Site Overview
KBA status: confirmed
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Text account
Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 35,760 ha in Kuppam and Palmaner Ranges of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. It is the only Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh known for harbouring a population of Asian elephants, which reportedly reappeared in 1984 after 200 years (Prasad and Reddy 2002). The Sanctuary has Dry Deciduous forests, with thorny scrub interspersed with trees providing a good habitat for Asian Elephants. These forests have small ponds, tanks and the Kaundinya and Kaigal tributaries of Palar River, which provide the main sources of water for the animals. The Sanctuary is situated 50 km from Chittoor and 120 km from Bangalore.
MAIN THREATS: Man-animal conflict; Over-grazing; Illegal wood collection. Since the Asian Elephants reappeared in Kaundinya WLS, it has become the focus of conservation action. Seven villages are situated inside the Sanctuary. Insufficient fodder in the forest due to severe over-grazing by livestock, and the availability of crops such as sugarcane, sorghum and ragi attract elephants to them, resulting in man-animal conflict. Sadly, till 2002, 42 people have been killed by elephants (Prasad and Reddy 2002). At the same time, 12 elephants were electrocuted to death by the angry villagers. Kalyani dam in Chamala Valley near Thirupathi is found to be a good habitat for elephants. The Chamala Valley is included in Sri Venkateswara National Park (also an IBA). A corridor for elephants is planned between Koundinya and Sri Venkateswara under Project Elephant (Prasad and Reddy 2002). With better habitat protection under Project Elephant, the Yellow-throated Bulbul would also benefit, along with other dry land bird species.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage level | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Forest | - | ||
| 3. Shrubland | - | ||
| 6. Rocky Areas (e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | - |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Residential & commercial development | 1.1 Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | Affects the minority of the population (<50%) | Medium | ||
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.3 Livestock farming & ranching | 2.3.2 Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing | Affects the minority of the population (<50%) | Causing or likely to cause very rapid declines (>30% over 10 years or three generations; whichever is the longer) | High |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | 5.1.3 Persecution/control | Ongoing | Affects the minority of the population (<50%) | Causing or likely to cause very rapid declines (>30% over 10 years or three generations; whichever is the longer) | High |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | 5.3.3 Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing | Affects the minority of the population (<50%) | Medium |
