By Pallavi Priya

Located in Kodagu in Mysore district of Karnataka, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is part of the Nilgiri biosphere. It is spread across the foothills of the Western Ghats to the Brahmagiri hills and southwards towards Kerala. Adjoining Bandipur National Park, Mudumalai National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, it is the largest protected area in South India.

Nagarhole TR has around 150 tigers and other wild animals that includes leopard and elephants. Due to its demography, animals tend to migrate from here towards Wayanad in Kerala, and the chances of man-animal conflicts increases. The Belur Makhana which killed a man in Wayanad also travelled there from Nagarhole and is now being contained within Nagarhole Reserve as per the latest update.

While the area already faces the issue of conflicts, the scorching heat in summer, lack of rainfall, and scarcity of water increase the chances of migration and more conflicts. Unlike most parts of the country, summer comes in March in Nagarhole area. However, this year, it has come early and due to lack of rain in the last year, 33 waterholes in the TR are completely dried up. It is the first time Nagarhole is facing such a situation and the forest staff have themselves taken upon the task of replenishing the water resources using solar powered borewells and tankers.

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