Prayaas(1.2) - Akshay Urja Club

with an average of 4,000 millimeters (157 in). The rivers Nethravati, Tunga and Bhadra are believed to originate here at Ganga Moola.

Flora: The Park has mostly evergreen and semievergreen forests. Shola grassland habitat is found at elevations above 1,400 meters (4,593 ft.).

Evergreen trees include Poeciloneuron indicum, Holigarna arnottiana, Artocarpus sp., Calophyllum sp., Alstonia scholaris, Canarium strictum, Syzygium cumini, Flacourtia montana, Symplocos spicata, Hopea parviflora, Mesua ferrea and Evodia roxburghiana. There are also a few plantations of Eucalyptus, Casuarina and Acacia auriculiformis.

Fauna: Mammals in the park include Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Dhole, Golden jackal, Lion-tailed Macaque, Common Langur, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, Indian Crested Porcupine and mongoose. Reptiles are represented by snakes and tortoises. Bird species in the park include the Malabar Trogon, Great Hornbill, Malabar whistling thrush and Imperial Pigeon.

In an effort to expand undisturbed areas for tigers, Kudremukh National Park has been approved as the 41st tiger reserve of the country. Awaiting final declaration, the park will come under the aegis of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), what was once popularly called Project Tiger.

However, concerns over vulnerability of tigers within protected areas and rights of people living in the reserves have forced many to question what the declaration will truly declare.

Situated among the Western Ghats in Chikmagalur district, Kudremukh is famous for its biodiversity while being one of the world’s 25 hotspots. It is home to a number of endangered animals and rare species like the wild dogs, tigers, leopards and a variety of butterflies. This critical habitat was declared a national park in the year 1987.