Arabhithittu Wildlife Sanctuary (18236)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Arabhithittu Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.2667, Longitude: 76.4167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 780 to 856
Area of KBA (km2): 16.6675
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This Sanctuary was a game reserve till 1985, when it was declared a wildlife sanctuary. It is a small sanctuary with Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest and scrubland, surrounded by cultivation and grazing land. Two large plantations, one of Eucalyptus and the other of Sandalwood Santalum album, are also located within the Sanctuary. Arabhithittu could be approached from Mysore to Bilikere (25 km), and on to the Sanctuary’s eastern edge (2.5 km), but entry to the forest is highly restricted due to the Ministry of Defence installations nearby. At the same time, their presence has also protected a large chunk of the forest from illegal felling and grazing. The area is mainly covered with scrub forest. One large patch each of Eucalyptus and Sandalwood plantations is present in the area. Other tree species include Ailanthus triphysa, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Anogeissus latifolia, Butea sp., Diospyros melanoxylon, Emblica officinalis and Acacia sundra (Manjrekar 2000).
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)
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: This site contained a good representative of Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, including its avian community. The Whitebellied Minivet Pericrocotus erythropygius is often seen here. This site is selected as an IBA due to the presence of vulnerable Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The common predators of the Sanctuary include Leopard Panthera pardus and Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis. The other mammals are Spotted Deer Axis axis, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Porcupine Hystrix indica, Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis and Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi. The Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis is among the reptiles widely present.
Habitats
Land use: military
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Grazing; Illegal tree felling. No information is available on the conservation issues in this IBA.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Lal, R., Kothari, A., Pande, P. and Singh, S. (Eds.) (1994): Directory of National Parks and Sanctuaries in Karnataka, Management Status and Profiles. Center for Public Policy, Planning and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. Manjrekar, N. (ed.) (2000): A Walk on the Wild Side. Karnataka Forest Department, Wildlife Wing.