Situated roughly 40 kilometres northwest of the Chikkamagaluru hill station in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka, the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wilderness area inhabited by a wide range of plant and animal life. While the sanctuary is best known for its impressive tiger population, it is also home to elephant, leopard, wild dog, jackal, gaur, otter, sloth bear, sambar, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, slender loris, crocodile and over 300 species of birds. These animals find refuge in the area’s lofty hill ranges covered in a blanket of lush green vegetation consisting of predominantly moist and dry deciduous forests made up of over 120 species of trees. Visitors can also look forward to spotting the area’s many exotic butterflies such as the baronet, blue pansy butterfly, southern birdwing, yamfly, crimson rose, tailed jay, and great orange tip.
