SOMESHWARA WILD LIFE SANCTUARY Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary has been named after Lord Someshwara, the presiding deity of the famous Someshwara temple located within the limits of the sanctuary Vision To conserve the biodiversity of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary with local cooperation and develop facilities for protection and habitat improvement for the survival of wildlife. Key Objectives To conserve the biodiversity and wildlife of the sanctuary To minimise the man animal conflict To provide necessary facilities for protection and development of wildlife involving the local community participation Encourage eco tourism for public and school children’s to create awareness on environment and forest ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Kudremukh wildlife Division lies in the heart of Western Ghats. It comprises of Kudremukh National park, Someshwara wildlife sanctuary, and Mookambika Wildlife sanctuary. Sri Ambady Madhav, IFS, the then Deputy Conservator of Forest, Kudremukh Wildlife Division, Karkala had prepared first management plan for the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1996 for 5 years (1996-2001). Sri. K.N. Murthy, IFS, prepared the 2nd management plan for 6 years (2004-2010). I thank all other senior officials for contributing their ideas, information and valuable efforts for preparing the management plan. I sincerely thank Sri. S. Shanthappa, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Mangalore Circle, Mangalore for his outstanding guidance and unstinted support in preparing the menu script. I gratefully, acknowledge Sri P. Suresh Shetty A.C.F., Wildlife Sub division, Kundapura. and Sri Lohith RFO, Someshwara Wildlife Range, Hebri. and their staff who enthusiastically participated in this revision work by providing information and many valuable suggestions. I have a great deal to all those scientist and academicians and office staff whose hard work has contributed substantially to this management plan. Date : 30-10-2010 ( PRAKASH. S. NETALKAR, I.F.S., ) Place : Karkala Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kudremukh Wildlife Division, KARKALA. TABLE OF CONTENTS VISION STATEMENT MAP OF THE SANCTUARY PART – I - THE PROTECTED AREA: THE EXISTING SITUATION CHAPTER – I INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA - 1-2 CHAPTER – II THE TRACT DEALT WITH - 3-6 CHAPTER – III FLORA AND FAUNA - 7-12 CHAPTER – IV HISTORY OF MANAGEMENT AND - 13-21 PRESENT PRACTICES CHAPTER – V BASIS OF PROPOSALS - 22-29 PART – II- PROPOSED MANAGEMENT CHAPTER – VI THREAT ANALYSIS - 30-32 CHAPTER – VII PLAN OBJECTIVES - 33-34 CHAPTER – VIII THE STRATEGIES - 35-41 CHAPTER – IX HABITAT PROTECTION AND - 42-46 MANAGEMENT CHAPTER – X ECO-TOURISM AND CONSERVATION - 47-50 EDUCATION CHAPTER – XI ECO-DEVELOPMENT & PUBLICITY - 51-54 CHAPTER – XII RESEARCH, MONITORING AND - 55-56 TRAINING CHAPTER – XIII BUDGET AND PROGRAMME OF - 57-58 WORKS ANNEXURES ANNEXURE - I - Facsimile of the later notification of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary ANNEXURE – II - Village survey number wise details of lands that constitute the protected area (PA) ANNEXURE – III - List of flora found in the Sanctuary ANNEXURE – III(a) - List of species of plants found in the sanctuary Research done by Dr. G.R.Hegde, Professor and Chairman, P.G.Department of Studies in Botany, Karnataka University, Dharwad. ANNEXURE – IV - List of all the plantations raised so far in the sanctuary ANNEXURE – V - List of fauna found in the sanctuary ANNEXURE – VI - List of Avifauna in the sanctuary ANNEXURE – VII - Description of all the blocks and compartments and their allotment to the beats and sections concerned ANNEXURE – VIII - List of patrolling tracks and trekking path ANNEXURE – IX - List of buildings pertaining in to the sanctuary ANNEXURE – X - List of ponds in side the Sanctuary ANNEXURE – XI - List of watchtowers, wireless towers, entry barriers, etc., ANNEXURE – XII - Summary of expenditure of the PA for the last 5 years ANNEXURE – XIII - List of Enclosures ANNEXURE - XIV - Abstract of licensed gun holders ANNEXURE – XV - Fire crises management ANNEXURE - XVI - List of required executive staff ANNEXURE – XVII - Demographic information of the zone Survey of the villages inside the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary done in the year 2002. Demographic details of such villages ANNEXURE – XVIII - List of all medicinal plants found in the Sanctuary Research done by Sri. Beguru D. Prakash, Lecturer, Alvas College, Moodabidre. ANNEXURE - XIX - List of all Ferns found in the Sanctuary A study done with the help of botanist Dr. K.G.Bhat, Rtd. Professor, Poornaprajna College, Udupi ANNEXURE - XX - The list of do’s and don’ts for the tourists while entering into the sanctuary. ANNEXURE – XXI - The programme of works indicating the year, quantity of work and their financial implications PLATES 1. A map of the sanctuary showing different reserved forests- Plate – 1. 2. Vegetation map of the sanctuary Plate – 2 3. Organisational flow chart Plate –3 4. A miniature map of the area organisation Plate –4 5. Infrastructure map plate _5 6. A map of the existing &proposed areas is furnished in Plate -6 7. The sanctuary has been divided into zones for the purpose of management as indicated in the map in plate – 7 8. Eco sensitive zone map and section Map in plate – 8 9. Section maps showing different types of works proposed are furnished in Plates 9-10 TABLES: 1 TABLE : 1 List of Reserved Forests of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary: 2 TABLE: 2 List of research plots inside the sanctuary : 3 Table : 3 Statement showing the details of research conducted for the last ten years (From 1998-99 to 2007-08) at Someshwar wildlife sanctuary 4 Table :4 Offence cases in Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary 5 Table : 5 Compensation paid details for last 5 years within the sanctuary 6 Table : 6 Weapon details 7 Table : 7 List of EDC plantations in the sanctuary 1 1.1.1 – Name, location, constitution and extent: Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary has been named after Lord Someshwara, the presiding deity of the famous Someshwara temple located within the limits of the sanctuary. It was notified as wildlife sanctuary by Government of Karnataka vide notification No.AFD.51.FWL.74, dated : 05-06-1974 and confirmed vide government notification no.FFD.51.FWL.76, dated : 12-10-1979. Facsimile of the later notification is furnished at ANNEXURE - I. Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Karkala and Kundapur taluks of Udupi district in Karnataka state. It lies between 130 29’ and 130 36’ north latitude and 740 50’ and 750 05’ east longitude. The sanctuary is spread over 86.99 sq. kms. The sanctuary is constituted by eight reserved forests and a district forest as mentioned below :- TABLE : 1 – List of Reserved Forests of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary: Sl. Name of the Extent Notification number Taluk no. reserved forest (acres) BLOCK – A 1 Ballimane RF 10756.80 G.O.No.1035 Rev, dated : Kundapur 10-10-1900 2 Old Someshwara RF 2095.23 G.O.No.22, dated : Karkala 14-02-1907 3 New Someshwara RF 2477.40 G.O.No.129 Rev, dated : Karkala 19-01-1907 4 Jatkatmale RF 1294.70 G.O.No.370 Rev, dated : Karkala 13-06-1899 5 Mavinakodlu RF 1416.40 G.O.No.664 Rev, dated : Karkala 29-09-1899 BLOCK – B 6 Thenkahola RF 2199.28 G.O.No.317 Rev, dated : Karkala 14-04-1891 7 Matkalgudde RF 291.80 G.O.No.71 Rev, dated : Karkala 26-01-1899 8 Jomblukadu RF 550.00 G.O.No.AFO 76/39/8, Karkala dated : 10-06-1984 9 Chara Block I & II 414.00 Not declared as RF Karkala Total : 21495.61 acres or 8699.15 ha. Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Management Plan January 2011 to December 2015 -2- Ballimane and New Someshwara reserved forests belonging to ‘block – A’ in the notification provide rich green clothing to the slopes of the Western Ghats. Areas constituting Block – B are actually small and disjointed reserved forests of small hectare surrounded by heavy habitations. Local public and their animals use these areas regularly. The sanctuary consists of tropical evergreen, semi evergreen and moist mixed deciduous forests A map of the sanctuary showing different reserved forests is furnished at Plate – 1. Village survey number wise details of lands that constitute the protected area (PA) are furnished at ANNEXURE - II 1.2.1– Approach and access: The district head quarter as well as nearest railway station is at Udupi, 35 kms away from the sanctuary. Port town of Mangalore is about 90 kms from the sanctuary. Nearest Airport is Bajpe - about 75 kms from the sanctuary. Plenty of private buses ply through the sanctuary, especially mini busses connecting Udupi and Shimoga towns via Hebri and Agumbe. All weather roads connect the sanctuary. It is about 35 kms from Karkala, the Divisional forest head quarters. 1.2.3 Statement of significance Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary has semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. Machilus Macrantha, Lophopetalum wightianum and Artocarpus hirsuta are some of the species of flora found in this sanctuary. Mammals in the Someshwara Wildlife sanctuary include Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle cat, Wild Pig, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Common otter, Wild Dog, Jackal, Gaur, Barking Deer, Lion Tailed Macaque, Bonnet Macaque, Palms Civet and Common Langur. Reptiles are represented by King Cobra, Python and Monitor lizard. Someshwara Wildlife sanctuary also houses some interesting birds like Malabar trogon, Ceylon frogmouth, Malabar pied hornbill and Malabar whistling thrush Bamboo Plant Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Management Plan January 2011 to December 2015 -3- 2.1.1 –External Boundaries: Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary consists of two blocks of forests, the boundaries of which are fully described at Annexure - I. Boundaries are distinct and well maintained. It starts near the common boundary of Tombattu and Ballimane RF on the northwest and travels about 7 km east along the northern boundary of Ballimane RF; then turns south and travels along the ridge line up to the 7th curve in the Agumbe ghat road; then travels west almost along the state highway till very close to Hebri township and then turns towards north and passes through the western boundary of Jatkatmale, Mavinakodlu and Ballimane RFs to join the starting point.