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Introduction

Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, one of India’s best-known wildlife reserves, lies 90 km west of Mysore City, on the tableland of the Deccan Plateau, adjoining the Western Ghats. The tiger reserve is named after a small river, Nagarhole (literally, ‘Snake Stream’ in Kannada), that meanders elaborately within the TR before joining the Kabini River. It is situated in the districts of Mysore and Kodagu in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Blessed with a moderate climate and diverse geographical features, the TR supports a great abundance of varied plant and animal species, making it a veritable paradise for wildlife. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve (11°45′ N to 12° 15′ N, 75°55′ E to76°20′ E) is flanked by Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve to its south-east and Kerala’s Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary to its south-west. The three protected areas, together with Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Kerala’s Silent Valley Reserve, constitute the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is the best remaining stretch of habitat for the Asian elephant. It is also India’s first biosphere reserve and encompasses an area of about 5500 km².
Area of the tiger reserve
Core/critical tiger habitat: 643.35 km²
Buffer/peripheral area: 200.57 km² (Forest Area), 361.84 km² (Non-Forest Area)
Total : 1205.76 km²

Management Strengths:

Location of the tiger reserve with regional connectivity
The location of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is so special and unique that it has very good connectivity with other protected areas or managed forests like Bandipur Tiger Reserve on the south-eastern side, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary on the south-western side, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary on the western side and reserve forests of Anechowkur, Maukal, Devmachi, Doddaharave and Dubare on the northern side. Thus, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve became a natural habitat for the breeding population (source population) of tigers which supports many meta-populations around this critical tiger habitat by way of spillover and thus maintains a perfect metapopulation dynamic in the Nagarhole–Bandipur–Mudumalai–Wayanad Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) of the North-Central Western Ghats Landscape. Further, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is a part of the 5520 km² Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the Mysore Elephant Reserve, providing connectivity not only for tigers but also other territorial, long-ranging animals like the Asiatic elephant. In the context of the present-day model of tiger conservation in India, i.e., core–buffer corridor/connecting link, the location of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is so crucial and strategic because it is a part of the Nagarhole–Mudumalai–Wayanad Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) of North-the Central Western Ghats Landscape and a perfect place which can support the long-term survival of tigers in India.
Effective protection strategy
With the establishment and operationalization of 24 anti-poaching camps distributed all over the tiger reserve, the level of protection in the Nagarhole tiger reserve have improved significantly over the years, which has ultimately brought forest and wildlife offences inside the tiger reserve under control. But, still there is lot of scope to improve and strengthen the intelligence network and protection system in this tiger reserve. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve has a very good network of roads, fire lines and communication facilities which help the management authority to reach any spot in no time and thus support the management in dealing with all forms of threats to its protection strategy. For the first time in India, recently there was recruitment and constitution of a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) specially trained for the protection of tigers in and around Nagarhole and Bandipur tiger reserves, which has added strength to the protection effort of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Perfect assemblage of mega-herbivores and charismatic carnivores
Nagarhole Tiger Reserve has an assemblage of many mega-herbivores like the Asiatic elephant, Indian gaur, sambar and spotted deer. It also has an assemblage of top carnivores like the Bengal tiger, leopard and Asiatic wild dog (dhole) and omnivores like the sloth bear. Being a continuation of the Western Ghats, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is a hotspot of biological diversity, with a high level of endemism, and has become a home to many rare, endangered and threatened species of the Indian Sub-continent.
Presence of special habitat—hadlus
One of the special features of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is the presence of swampy marsh habitats called hadlus. Hadlus are unique ecosystems which hold water for the major part of the year and thus attract large numbers of wild ungulates during the pinch period. Thus, the hadlus are the single most important reason for the presence of a high density of ungulates in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Long-term wildlife ecological research
Nagarhole is the only protected area of this country having long-term monitoring data on its predators, co-predators and prey species. Through its support for various research projects since 1984, the reserve has generated long-term baseline data on prey–predator dynamics, which have ultimately paved the way for development of wildlife science in our country, apart from continuously guiding the reserve in making certain management decisions. The seed for the recently adopted capture–recapture model (through camera trap techniques) for the estimation of tiger numbers in our country was sown in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Important catchment area
Nagarhole Tiger Reserve forms the major catchment area that drains several perennial streams and large rivers like the Kabini, Lakshmanateertha, Taraka and Nagarhole. These rivers in turn form important tributaries of the River Cauvery and thus become the major source of water for agriculture in Karnataka and the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. By supporting the livelihoods of the local people and people of southern India through its ecological and ecosystem services (water for irrigation and drinking, catchment value), the Nagarhole forest forms one of the major strengths of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Pro-conservation policy of the Karnataka government
Till the mid-1980’s, the then forest area of present-day Nagarhole Tiger Reserve was generating lot of revenue through timber extraction and sale. Through its pro-conservation policy, the Karnataka government boldly declared these forest areas a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and then a national park in 1983. By preserving these forest areas for conservation of wildlife, the state government incurred a huge revenue loss to its exchequer which otherwise it would have otherwise earned through timber extraction and thus became a champion of the cause of wildlife and its conservation. The state government is very firm and determined in supporting the vision and mission to conserve the biodiversity of this landscape. This is considered one of the greatest strengths of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Constitution of Tiger Conservation Foundation
Nagarhole is one of the few tiger reserves which have constituted the Tiger Conservation Foundation in time. The constitution of this Nagarhole Tiger Conservation Foundation has led to greater financial autonomy and administrative flexibility in the day-to-day management of the tiger reserve.
World famous destination for wildlife tourism
Because of its terrain (gently undulating terrain with good sighting of wild animals), healthy population of wild animals (assured sighting of many animals), diverse habitats (Jeep safaris in wooded areas and boating at Kabini backwaters), location (close to and easily accessed from Mysore, Bangalore and the adjacent states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and year-round tourism, there is a huge inflow of tourists (both Indian and foreign tourists) interested in wildlife sighting and/or wildlife photography. Further, the recent boom in the software profession at Bangalore has attracted more tourists recently.
Backwaters at Kabini and Taraka
During the lean period of summer, when the Kabini backwaters start receding, the grassland takes up the area, which attracts major herbivores including large numbers of Asiatic elephants from all the nearby protected areas and thus forms the largest congregation of Asiatic elephants in the world. During summer, new habitats are created every 10th day, which supports the major herbivore population and thus sustains the dependent top carnivore populations of the tiger, leopard and wild dog. Further, the backwaters add diversity to Nagarhole Tiger Reserve by supporting aquatic plants and animals like aquatic birds, crocodiles, otters and turtles.
Smooth relations with the bordering states and their protected areas
Since Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is situated on the inter-state borders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu; it enjoys an ecological advantage of having a continuous stretch of forest cover and wildlife habitat. But, it does face some unique threats and administrative challenges, which have been nullified due to the smooth relations with the bordering states and the absence of any irritants. Further, Karnataka enjoys full cooperation and coordination with the bordering states, which has become a strength of its management and administration.
Experience from the earlier tribal relocation programmes
Nagarhole National Park did its first tribal relocation project in 1999 and till today it has learnt a lot from that programme. These experiences are certainly helping the reserve in their present relocation programmes and will continues to help us future relocation/rehabilitation plans for tribes and other forest dwellers. This forms one of the strengths of this tiger reserve.
Good infrastructure
Though there is considerable scope to improve the infrastructure of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve to meet the present day management challenges, it has reasonably good basic infrastructure like anti-poaching camps, road networks, IBs, a wireless communication network, firearms, protection gear and patrolling vehicles like jeeps and boats for patrolling and other protection work. Compared with many other tiger reserves of our country, Nagarhole has reasonably good infrastructure for protection and management.
Positive historical background in the protection and conservation of wildlife
Nagarhole has a strong tradition of a pro-wildlife conservation policy and activity since the time of the Mysore Maharaja and British rulers. After the Indian Independence, the park was converted into a commercial timber harvesting area, which was later reversed by looking back to our historic periods of conservation. This motivated the state government to declare this area a protected area and ultimately revived the wildlife population of Nagarhole. Thus, the historical background always forms a basic strength of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Presence of large number of government and non-government organizations in the state/district
These NGOs and other government organizations are considered a strength because they will be involved in the various stages of management and implementation of any plan to achieve the set goals and objectives.
One of the centres of the IEDP project
Nagarhole is one of the seven protected areas of our country where the India Eco-Development Project (IEDP), funded by GEF and IDA and monitored by the World Bank, was implemented in 1997, with the object of conserving the biodiversity by reducing the pressure of surrounding villages on the park resources and at the same time reducing the pressure of wildlife on the surrounding villages. These objectives were sought to be achieved with the help of six sub-plans, viz., Village Eco-development, Capacity Building, Research and Monitoring, Infrastructure Development, Tourism and Environmental Education and Park Management. The experience and knowledge gained from this project will certainly help the reserve in dealing with the new emerging challenges and become a strength of this tiger reserve. Further, many EDCs were formed during this project period, which can be considered one of the strengths. This may be useful in many ways to the reserve in the future in achieving its management goals and objectives.
Practice of closing roads from 6 PM to 6 AM
As per the direction of the Karnataka High Court, the Mysore–Mananthavady road, Hunsur–Kutta road and Kallahatti–Murkal–Karmad roads have been closed for traffic between 6 PM and 6 AM, thereby protecting the wild animals from the threats of night traffic and road accidents.

Management Weaknesses:

Presence of human settlements inside the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH)
Inside the 643.39 km² Critical Tiger Habitat of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve there are about 6145 tribes from 1550 families living in 54 hamlets called haadies. Apart from the tribal haadies, there are 14 village settlements inside the Critical Tiger Habitat of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. Around 11 village settlements situated within Kakankote State Forest covering an area of about 534 ha and 3 village settlements situated in Arakeri Reserve Forest covering an area of 7.7 ha. Further, there are many encroachments which form an enclosure within the tiger reserve. These settlements exert lot of pressure on the natural resources of the tiger reserve, which has a negative impact on the population of wild animals and on their habitats.
Monoculture plantations inside the tiger reserve
An around 107 km² area of the tiger reserve is occupied by the plantations raised during different periods before 1984. Of the total 10716.97 ha, teak plantations occupy 9233.99 ha, eucalyptus 539.63 ha and miscellaneous species the remaining 943.35 ha. These monoculture exotic plantations rarely support any undergrowth or regeneration of native species and thus hold little wildlife value.
Presence of state highways running across the CTH
Some of the highways running across the Nagarhole tiger reserve are Mysore–Mananthavady, Hunsur–Kutta and H.D. Kote–Kallahatti–Murkal roads. There is heavy traffic across the park because of them. The traffic along these roads causes serious disturbances to the wild animals and many times kill wild animals.
Large portion of the boundaries having interface with village settlements
On its eastern and western borders (200 km length), Nagarhole Tiger Reserve has revenue villages and private coffee estates, which makes it susceptible to various threats like illegal timber cutting, illegal grazing and snaring for bush meat. Further, in the recent past, there have been increasing incidences of wild animals straying out and, thus, of human–animal conflict, which works against the management goals and objectives.
Delay in notification of buffer zone around the western side of the tiger reserve
After continued and persistent efforts, the buffer zones on the northern, eastern and southern sides of the core area of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve were notified very recently. But, the buffer zone demarcation and its notification on the western side (coffee planters of Coorg District, bordering Nagarhole and Kallahalla Range) could not be achieved due to misconceptions of the local people about the buffer zone concept, the parochial attitude of the local pollical class to wildlife conservation and strained park–people relationships. Thus, till date the buffer zone on the western side of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve has not been declared. The approval of the local panchayat could not be obtained.
Existence of a 25–30% vacancy in the permanent field staff
Though it faces a shortage of field staff at present, the reserve is likely to get an additional force of newly recruited members for protection.
Defunct EDCs
Though around 76 EDCs were formed during the IEDP period, presently is a huge vacuum in the working of these EDCs. Most of the EDCs became dormant due to stoppage of fund flow after the completion of IEDP project. Thus, there exists hardly any dialogue between the tiger reserve and these EDC members, which has led to an absence of any cooperation from the fringe-area people with the management of the reserve.
Weak coordination exists among various institutions
Presently there is hardly any coordination mechanism among the forest department, EDCs, NGOs and other government organizations due to a lack of frequent dialogues.
Absence of adaptive experimental research
Though there were long-term basic research on tigers and their prey–predation relation, hardly there was any adaptive experimental research which could find immediate solution to the existing management problems like arresting the spread of obnoxious weeds, replacing the monoculture exotic plantations with native species of trees and grasses, regeneration of native species of trees etc.
The porous interstate boundary with Kerala
On the south-western side of the Kerala–Karnataka border is the River Kabini, which was crossed by the people of Kerala for illegal activities like illegal fishing and timber cutting at night.
Short tenures of the Deputy Directors (DCFs)
In the last decade, many DCFs were posted at Nagarhole and they did not serve more than a year or two. So, within their short tenures they could not do any justice to the management of the reserve, and ultimately the tiger reserve suffered from a lack of continuity in the management inputs or decisions, which is one of the major weak points of the tiger reserve.
Administration of the core, the proposed buffer and relocation by a single Deputy Director/Director
Due to the administration of the core, the proposed buffer and tribal relocation by a single Deputy Director or Director, there will be an increased work load, and pilling up of files could delay the execution of any management decision.
Inadequate regeneration of native species
Due to occupation by weeds of large areas and the presence of monoculture plantations on a 107 km² area, the regeneration of native species was found to be unsatisfactory, which can be considered one of the weak points of Nagarhole.
Absence of updated baseline data and week database management
The database management system is very poor in this division. So there should be one qualified person appointed exclusively to look after database management. Presently there is no matching of data between the range office and the division office. The person appointed as data manager should be given regular training in various aspect of database management with respect to forest department works.
Absence of interpretation centre or visitor centre at Nagarhole
Though Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is famous for many reasons including wildlife tourism, there is no interpretation centre or visitor centre for nature education and awareness creation about the importance of wildlife and its conservation.

Immediate Actionable Points:

Apart from the actionable points mentioned against each strength and weakness, the following points have to be taken care by NTR.

The rehabilitation of tribal families from the core area of TR has to be expedited.
Research works are being carried out, to be followed up with the research institution or organization to get the outcomes for course correction.
Nagarhole Tiger Reserve has done excellent work in removal of lantana as part of habitat improvement, and this activity should be continued with the support of a continuous flow of funds.
There are 108 EDCs in NTR, out of which 35 EDCs are active. Efforts should be made to strengthen and support the EDCs and SHGs.
A study on carbon storage, carbon capture and loss assessment to be carried out in consultation with technical agencies.
Establishment of Local arA Braille corridor should be established in the interpretation centre.
All visitors’ place should have handicapped-friendly infrastructure and logistics.

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Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

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