Biligiriranga Hills, Tiger Reserve, Biodiversity, Conservation

Biligiriranga Hills is also known as Biligirirangan Hills. They form a unique hill range in south-western Karnataka along the Tamil Nadu border. These hills lie in Chamarajanagar district and are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The region acts as a crucial ecological link between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, supporting rich biodiversity, varied climate and significant wildlife movement across southern India.

Biligiriranga Hills Features

Biligiriranga Hills represent a geographically and ecologically significant hill system acting as a natural bridge between two major mountain ranges of India. The significant features of the hills include:

• Location: The hills are located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, bordering Erode district of Tamil Nadu. 
• Extent: The sanctuary spans about 540 sq km, stretching nearly 35 km north-south and 15 km east-west across varied terrain.
• Significance: The hills form a vital ecological bridge between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, enabling gene flow and species movement. This connectivity supports biodiversity across the Deccan Plateau and strengthens wildlife corridors.
• Elevation: The elevation ranges from about 600 m at the base to 1,800 m at the highest peak. The hills rise prominently above surrounding plains like Mysore and Bangalore plateau.
• Peaks: The highest peak of the hill range is Kattari Betta.
• Geology: The hills are composed mainly of charnockite rocks and form a north-south ridge system. They represent a northeastern extension of the Western Ghats merging with fragmented Eastern Ghats.
• Climate and Rainfall: The region experiences varied climate with temperatures ranging from 9°C to 38°C. Rainfall varies from 600 mm at lower elevations to nearly 3000 mm at higher altitudes.
• Cultural Significance: The name “Biligiri” refers to white rocky cliffs or mist covered hills. The region houses the Ranganathaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, attracting pilgrims annually.
• Ecological Significance: The hills form a vital ecological bridge between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, enabling gene flow and species movement. This connectivity supports biodiversity across the Deccan Plateau and strengthens wildlife corridors

Biligiriranga Hills Biodiversity

The Biligiriranga Hills exhibit exceptional biodiversity due to varied habitats and their location between two major ecological regions of India.

• Forest Types: The hills support diverse vegetation including scrub forests, deciduous forests, riparian zones, evergreen forests, sholas and montane grasslands due to altitude and climatic variations.
• Floral Diversity: The forests contain nearly 800 plant species belonging to different families. Vegetation ranges from southern tropical evergreen and semi evergreen to moist deciduous forests, reflecting strong Western Ghats affinity.
• Mammalian Fauna: Around 26 mammal species are recorded, including major ungulates such as gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer and rare four horned antelope, indicating healthy herbivore populations.
• Carnivores: Key predators include tiger, leopard, wild dog, lesser cats and civet cats. The tiger density is about 9 per 100 sq km, showing strong conservation value of the habitat.
• Elephant Population: The hills support large herds of Asian elephants and act as one of the few habitats east of the Western Ghats where these animals occur in significant numbers.
• Arboreal Species: The forests host arboreal mammals including two primate species and three squirrel species, notably the giant flying squirrel, indicating well developed canopy ecosystems.
• Avifauna Diversity: More than 250 bird species have been recorded, making the region an important bird habitat. It includes rare species such as the white winged tit.
• Endangered Species: Species like Icthyophis ghytinosus, an endangered caecilian and Microhyla sholigari highlight the region’s endemic and lesser known biodiversity richness.

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Biligiriranga Hills Conservation

Various measures for the conservation and protection of the diverse flora and fauna of the Biligiriranga Hills has been adopted as highlighted below:

• Sanctuary and Legal Status: The wildlife sanctuary was established in 1974 with 322.4 sq km area and expanded to 539.52 sq km in 1987.
• BRT Tiger Reserve: The area was declared Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve in January 2011, with a notable tiger density of 9 per 100 sq km, making it an important conservation landscape for large carnivores in southern India.
• Connectivity and Corridors: Major wildlife corridors include Edayarhalli-Doddasampige and Chamarajanagar-Talamalai routes. Elephant corridors like Punjur-Sathyamangalam enhance large mammal movement across landscapes.
• Conservation Challenges: Threats include quarrying activities and illegal resorts within the reserve. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has directed action against such encroachments to protect the ecosystem.