Kudremuk

Kudermuk National Park (located between 13 ° 01'00 "and 13 ° 29'17" north latitude and 75 ° 00'55 'and 75 ° 25'00 "east longitude) is the second largest protected area in the Western Ghats, it occupies covering an area of ​​600.32 km², covered by moist evergreen rainforests, Kudremuk National Park is located in the districts of South Kannada, Udipi and Chikmagalur. The Western Ghats are one of the 35 major centers of biological diversity in the world. Kudermuk National Park is one of the conservation centers tiger corresponding work in n m is conducted under the joint authority of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF-US.

The southern and western borders of the park pass along the steep slope of the Western Ghats, the heights here vary from 100 to 1892 m above sea level. The northern, central and eastern parts of the park are occupied by chains of gentle hills, the vegetation here is natural meadows with islands of mountain rainforest. The average annual rainfall is 7000 mm, which is why the forests here are evergreen.

In 1983-1984, in the territory of the present park, the population and population dynamics of the endangered monkey species, the Vanderu , were studied in detail , the study was conducted throughout the state of Karnataka with the support of the Karnataka government. It was found that the vast tropical forest suitable for these monkeys is located in the Kurdemek mountains, which most likely contains the largest Vanderu population in the Western Ghats - the largest outside the Malabar region . In the future, it also became clear that it is Vander that can be used as an indicator species, which makes it possible to judge the state of the environment, as well as an excuse for protecting their habitat. Based on the reports on this research work, the current Kudremuk National Park was created, but so far it was just a nature reserve. Subsequently, in 1987, the Karnataka government declared it a national park.

Kudremuk National Park is partially occupied by dense tropical forests on the hills, from the plains of the coast to the mountain forests of the Western Ghats. It lies in the territories of 3 districts already mentioned above. Mount Kudremuk, by which the national park got its name, is its highest peak (1892 m above sea level). The hills that take on the main blows of the monsoons make it impossible to grow trees on their peaks. In addition, this region is rich in magnetic iron ore , and glandular soils also do not contribute to the rapid growth of plants. As a result, most of the park is occupied by natural meadows. The valleys between the hills, on the contrary, provide some protection from the wind, it is in them that forests with a unique microclimate grow. The general view of the hilly plain with narrow ribbons of forests is fantastic.

On the territory of the reserve are the sources of 3 important rivers: Tungi, Bhadra and Netravati. Here - in the cave - there is the sanctuary of the goddess Bhagavati and a statue of the god Varaha 1.8 m high. The Tunga and Bhadra rivers flow freely through the park, the Kadambi waterfall attracts water tourists. In the national park, there are such animals as the Malabar civet , which is on the verge of extinction, the sponge bear , the red wolf , and the deer- axis .

People living in the national park do not want to live in the reserve. Their interests are upheld by Kudremukh Rashtriya Udyana Virodhi Okoota, a non-governmental organization ^[2] . Trying to restrain the alleged guerrilla warfare on these lands, on July 10, 2007 the police opened fire on the activists of this organization and killed five alleged guerrillas ^[2] .

Kudremuk is a tiger reserve, part of the larger Bhadra tiger reserve.

In the park there are many species of large Red List mammals, including the three main predatory species: tiger , leopard and red wolf . Among the prey of these predators, one can name such species as: gaur , zambar deer , wild boar , muntzhaki , deer , Indian macaque , various thin-bodied monkeys , and vander .

The humid climate and the huge water holding capacity of mountain meadows and forests led to the emergence of many permanent rivers and streams in the region, which are tributaries of the three main rivers of the park: Tunga, Bhadra and Netravati, these three rivers are significant as significant waterways for the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh . In the mountains of the reserve there is also an abandoned Wolf's Lair farm.

The town of Kudremuk first appeared as a mining town on the site where Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) began mining iron ore. This company worked for almost 30 years, but was closed in 2006 for environmental reasons ^[3] . She also contributed to ecotourism in the park and stagnated for the extension of the lease of land for another 99 years ^[3] . However, conservationists opposed this scenario because of the fact that the park should be allowed to rest in order to recover. As a result, a lease agreement for the extraction of iron ore in the national park was terminated on July 24, 1999 ^[4] .