Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary – Hampi

About

This is Asia’s first Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary. The sanctuary was created exclusively for the preservation of the sloth bear. It is about 50 km from Ballari and about 15 km from the World Heritage Site Hampi. The area between Daroji in Sandur taluka and Ramasagar of Hospet Taluk is host to numerous sloth bears.

In October 1994, the Government of Karnataka declared 5587.30 hectares of the Bilikallu Forest Reserve as Daroji Bear Sanctuary

Kishkindha, the mythical kingdom of Sugriva described in the Ramayana, is believed to be located on the bank of the Tungabhadra river. In the war against Ravana, Kishkinda, the monkey kingdom of Sugriva, was Rama’s ally. When Rama’s army crossed Hampi en route to Lanka, they met Jambavantha, a bear who joined the army.

The flora of this sanctuary is primarily dry deciduous scrub and Southern thorn forests. At the time of the declaration of the sanctuary, it was a large area of barren hillocks, but persistent efforts from Karnataka Forest Department have transformed the area into a lush green forest, filled with local flora.

The sanctuary’s flagship species is the Indian sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). It has a very stable population of sloth bears and they reside in the numerous caves found in the hillocks within the sanctuary. leopards, monitor lizards, mongoose, pangolins, star tortoises, etc. are some of the other animals that abound in the sanctuary.