About Nagarhole Tiger Reserve
- Official name: Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
- Location: Kodagu and Mysuru districts, Karnataka.
- Total Area: 847.98 sq km
- Etymology: From Kannada ‘Naga’ (snake) and ‘Hole’ (stream), after the winding Nagarahole River.
- Origin: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955; upgraded to a National Park in 1983/1988; notified India’s 37th Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1999.
Ecological Connectivity
- Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; lies northwest of Bandipur National Park (separated by the Kabini reservoir) and is contiguous with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
- Together with Mudumalai National Park, forms the largest contiguous protected wilderness area in Southern India (~2,183 sq km), a key corridor for Asian elephant migration.
Flora and Fauna of Nagarhole National Park
- Nagarhole National Park (Rajiv Gandhi National Park) lies in Karnataka and forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, adjoining Bandipur National Park and the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Flora: Predominantly tropical moist & dry deciduous forests, with teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian kino, bamboo and terminalia species.
- Fauna: Important habitat for tiger, Asian elephant, leopard, dhole (wild dog), gaur, sloth bear, sambar, chital, four-horned antelope and wild boar; notable birds include Malabar pied hornbill, grey-headed fish eagle and Nilgiri wood pigeon.
- Kabini backwaters: attract 600 to 800 elephants in dry summer months, the largest congregation of Asian elephants globally.
Conservation Challenges
- Tribal rights: Home to the Jenu Kurubas (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group), Betta Kurubas and Yeravas; over 3,400 tribal families were evicted following the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, tribals continue to demand land titles (patta); in May 2025, Jenu Kuruba families re-entered the forest to rebuild ancestral villages.
- Threats: smuggling of sandalwood and teak, poaching, and forest fires — including one in 2012 that destroyed over 6,000 acres.
Conclusion
Nagarhole is a core Project Tiger reserve and a critical link in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, notable for the co-existence of three top carnivores and the world’s largest seasonal congregation of Asian elephants. Its conservation record is inseparable from unresolved tribal forest rights disputes under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article – Mysuru Dasara’s Ceremonial Elephant March Bids Farewell to Tusker Abhimanyu |