Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation
Reserve@ Maidenahalli : is Tumkur district's only notified
protected area. It neighbours Maidenahalli, a small village in Madhugiri Taluk,
at the north-eastern tip of Tumkur district of Karnataka state, India. This area is a
part of the plains of Deccan plateau and borders Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
It is a 798-acre
(3.23 km2) patch of grassland with Eucalyptus and Acacia auriculiformis. It has the largest
contiguous population of blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) in Karnataka,
apart from Ranibennur
Blackbuck Sanctuary.
The open grasslands of peninsular India were once
widespread across the Deccan Plateau. Post- independence, however, they have
shrunk to isolated patches thanks to immense pressure for cultivation, human
habitation and other reasons that also include industrialisation. In 1987, the
forest department of Tumakuru Division began protecting the area when the
blackbuck’s presence was brought to their notice. In 1992, after sustained
efforts by the forest department, the jurisdiction of the area was handed over
from the Revenue Department to the Forest Department. The Forest Department
then fenced a portion of the area and raised a nursery. A concrete watchtower
was erected along with two wood houses and watchmen sheds. But, the ownership
of the land still rested with the revenue department.
Tumakuru’s nature lovers worked hard to have the
area granted the status of a Protected Area, like a wildlife sanctuary. The
first ever Status Survey report on the area was published by Tumakuru-based
Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC) in 1997. This helped the wildlife wing of
Karnataka Forest Department to source data on this area and recommend it be
declared a 'Conservation Reserve'. The Government of Karnataka accepted this
proposal. In February 2007, vide Government Order No: FEE 342 FWL 05, 798.33
acres (3.2307 km2) of the area was finally notified as
Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve, (though the original area proposed
to be included in this Conservation Reserve was 893 acres). Thus, Tumkur
District's first protected area was born.
Jayamangali (Maidanahalli) Blackbuck Conservation Reserve
has the second largest contiguous population of blackbuck in Karnataka, after Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary. In total, 19 species of
mammals belonging to 11 families have been recorded in the area, including the near threatened blackbuck. The first ever census of
Jayamangali blackbuck reserve was jointly conducted by the members of WANC and
Karnataka Forest Department in the area on 15–16 November 1997, during which a
population of 408 blackbuck was recorded. A subsequent census was held by the
above on 1–2 October 2002, which revealed a population of over 600 blackbuck.
Now Approx 1000
Apart from the blackbuck, other mammals present in the
area includes Indian wolf, bonnet macaque, jungle cat, small
Indian civet, Indian
gray mongoose, two species of bats, the Indian fox, the Indian hare, and six
species of rodents.
More Images:https://www.facebook.com/Jayamangali-Black-Buck-Conservation-Reserve-Wiildlife
