India - 2017 Tamil Nadu Forests

Bandipur National Park, in the southern state of Karnataka, India, stands as a premier wildlife sanctuary and an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Established in 1974 under Project Tiger to protect India’s dwindling tiger populations, Bandipur spans an expansive area of approximately 874 square kilometers (about 337 square miles). The park is part of a larger conservation area, including the adjacent Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, and Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka, forming a vast ecological continuum that is vital for wildlife conservation in southern India. Located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Mysore and 215 kilometers (134 miles) from Bangalore, Bandipur is renowned for its significant tiger population, making it a critical tiger reserve in the country. In addition to tigers, the park is home to other large mammals such as Indian elephants, gaurs (Indian bison), leopards, dholes (Indian wild dogs), sloth bears, and several species of deer. The park also boasts a rich avian diversity, with over 200 species of birds recorded, including the critically endangered Indian vulture.