Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Karnataka government has violated Wildlife (Protection) Act as well as Supreme Court orders in clearing a proposal to reduce the extent of Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary,, while the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has failed to ensure that denotification of 300 sq km of sanctuary is compensated.
- It is located in the Shimoga District of Karnataka.
- It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 23rd November 1974.
- It spans an area of 395.6 square kilometres.
- Inside the sanctuary is located the Tunga Anicut Dam, which shelters otters and water birds.
- Mandagadde Natural Bird Sanctuary, present on a small island in the River Tunga, is also a part of this sanctuary.
- There are a large number of human settlements inside Shettihalli Sanctuary, mainly consisting of families that were displaced by the construction of the Sharavathi Dam in the 1960s.
- It houses mammals like Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Jackal, Gaur, Elephant, Sloth Bear Sambar, Spotted Deer, Wild Pig, Common Langur, Bonnet Macaque, etc.
- Birds include Hornbills, Kingfishers, Bulbuls, Parakeets, Doves, Pigeons, Babblers, Flycatchers, Munias, Swallows, Woodpeckers, Peafowl, Jungle fowl and Partridges.
