wildlife

Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve (Maidenahalli), Tumkur Dist.

Information on the Grasslands of Tumkur district

NOTE: Much of the information on this site has been sourced from 'A status survey report of the proposed Mydenahalli Blackbuck Sanctuary' (1997) by Ameen Ahmed, U.V.Singh,IFS and Dr.Manjunath.K.R. If you would like to publish information from this site, please quote the source of information when ever and where ever possible.

FAUNA

A) Butterflies:

67 Species of Butterflies belonging to 7 families have been sighted in the area. Most of the species recorded are common throughout peninsular India and some are typical of the arid regions.

B) Mammals:

The second largest population of blackbuck in Karnataka, after Ranibennur is found at Jayamangali blackbuck conservation reserve. Many renowned grassland experts including the world's leading authority on Indian blackbuck, Dr.M.K.Ranjitsinh have visited Jayamangali blackbuck conservation reserve and suggest that this area's habitat is better than Ranibennur Sanctuary. 19 species of mammals belonging to 11 families have been recorded in the area, including the highly endangered Blackbuck. (Antelope cervicepra). The first ever census of Jayamangali blackbuck conservation reserve was jointly conducted by the members of WANC and Karnataka Forest Department in the area on 15th & 16th November 1997, during which a population of 408 blackbuck was recorded.

Apart from the blackbuck other mammals present in the area include bonnet macaque, jungle cat, the small Indian civet, the common mongoose, the wolf, the jackal, the Indian fox, 2 species of bats and 6 species of rodents.

C) Avifauna:

As expected of grasslands, the area is rich in ground birds, shrikes, larks and raptors. This is the only habitat in Tumakuru District where both Indian courser (Cursorius coromandelicus) and painted sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus indicus) have been recorded. Some of the surrounding villagers claim to have sighted the great Indian bustard in the area in the past. Their description of the bird which they refer to as 'pet myakay' (literally meaning small goat), its nest and egg resembles the great Indian bustard. But the same villagers agree that they have not come across this bird since the past 6 to 7 years. In monsoons, waterfowl like painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala) can be seen flying overhead to the nearby wetlands and the occasional little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) visits the temporary puddles. Winter attracts a large number of migrants some of which, like the harriers, roost on the ground.

The first ever checklist of Maidenahalli was prepared as a part of 'Status Survey of Maidenahalli proposed Blackbuck Sanctuary' by WANC, in November 1997. About 122 species of birds belonging to 38 families were then recorded in the area, of which 22 were migratory. Since then some interesting observations have been made in the area by visiting birdwatchers. Among the sightings worthy of being mentioned here are by Mike Prince et al in August 2007. Their records of rufous-fronted prinia (Prinia buchanani), Marshall’s iora (Aegithina nigrolutea), and tawny eagle (Aquila rapax) here, are new. The above three species are uncommon in Karnataka with only a handful of sightings so far.

Click here to learn more about Birds of Karnataka

D) Reptiles:

As Jayamangali Blackbuck reserve is basically a grassland, it has quite a number of Reptiles typical of dry areas/plains. About 26 species have been recorded in the area, including 14 different species of snakes.

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FLORA

More than 80 species of plants have been recorded from this area. Many of these plants have medicinal value.

Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC), Tumkur