| Chandoli National Park | |
|---|---|
| Sahyadri Tiger Reserve | |
 Oriental garden lizard at Chandoli National Park | |
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 Interactive map of Chandoli National Park | |
| Location | Sangli DistrictMaharashtra,India |
| Nearest city | Sangli,kolhapur |
| Coordinates | 17°11′30″N73°46′30″E / 17.19167°N 73.77500°E /17.19167; 73.77500 |
| Area | 317.67 square kilometres (122.65 sq mi) |
| Established | May 2004 |
| Governing body | Maharashtra State Forest Dept. |
| Website | http://chandolinationalpark.com/ (unofficial) |
| Official name | Natural Properties - Western Ghats (India) |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | ix, x |
| Designated | 2012(36thsession) |
| Reference no. | 1342 |
| Region | Indian subcontinent |
Chandoli National Park[1] is anational park established inSangli district in May 2004.[2] Earlier it was a Wildlife Sanctuary declared in 1985. Chandoli Park is notable as the southern portion of theSahyadri Tiger Reserve, withKoyna Wildlife Sanctuary forming the northern part of the reserve
The 741.22 km2 (286.19 sq mi) Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, including all of Chandoli National Park andKoyna Wildlife Sanctuary was declared by TheNational Tiger Conservation Authority as aProject Tigertiger reserve on May 21, 2007. The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve was then estimated to have ninetigers and 66leopards.[3]
Chandoli National Park is located near theChandoli Dam between longitudes 73°40' and 73°53' E and latitudes 17°03' and 17°20'N in Sangli District of Western Maharashtra. It lies between theRadhanagiri and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuaries and forms the southern part of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.[2] it is near about 101 km fromsangli
The park includes historical places of note including 17th century forts of theMaratha Empire,Prachitgad andBhairavgad. Most of the protected area was used an open jail for the "prisoners of war" of the earlybattles during ChhatrapatiShivaji Maharaj's rule.[citation needed]Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj used Prachitgad as an observation point and recreational place.[4]
The park spreads along the crest of the Sahyadri Range of the northernWestern Ghats. It forms and protects many perennial water channels, water holes and the Vasant Sagar Reservoir.Elevation of the park ranges from 589–1,044 m (1,932–3,425 ft).[5] The park receives its water supply from theWarna river and reservoir as well as several other small streams and rivers. Flat topped mountains, rocky,lateriticplateaus called 'Saddas', almost devoid of vegetation, large boulders and caves are distinctive to the protected areas in the Sahyadri region of the Western Ghats.[citation needed]
The forest types seen here are a mix ofMalabar Coast moist forests andNorth Western Ghats moist deciduous forests. In thedwarf evergreen forests, some tree species commonly seen here are the anjaniironwood tree,jamun,pisa (angustifolia),fig,Olea (diocia), katakspinous kino tree, nana orCrape myrtle (lanceolata),kinjal,kokum tree and phanasifalse kelat (brachiata). Other trees dominating the landscape include asan wood or ain orIndian laurel, amla orIndian gooseberry, umbar ordevil fig (hispida) and harra orchebulic myrobalan.
Grasses commonly seen here include bangala orbluestem grass sp., dongari orgolden beard grass (fulvus), black spear grass, kalikusli ortangle grass, anjan grass orbuffel grass, grader grass or karad orkangaroo grass (quadrivalvis) and grasses belonging to familyPoaceae, like saphet-kusli or Aristida funiculata].[6]Insectivorous plant species likesundews andbladderworts sp. are also found in this protected area.[citation needed]
Nearly 23 species of mammals, 122 species of birds, 20 species of amphibians and reptiles are known to be resident in the forests of Chandoli. Thetiger,[7]leopard,Indian bison,leopard cat,sloth bear andgiant squirrel are quite conspicuous here.[citation needed]
Manyprey species ofungulates such as thebarking deer,sambar deer,mouse deer andblackbuck are present. A census carried out in 2002 by the Forest Department showed a rise in the number of tigers, leopards, gaur, barking deer, mouse deer, sloth bears and blackbuck. A similar census carried out in 2004 showed a rise in gaur population in the Kolhapur Wildlife Division from 88 to 243.[8]
On 23 and 24 May 2018, a tiger was photographed in acamera trap in Chandoli. This was the first direct evidence of tigers in the reserve in eight years. Prior to that, in 2014, scat DNA and model-based predictions were used to estimate that the reserve had five to eight tigers.[7]
Work undertaken for habitat improvement and development in the Chandoli National Park include removal ofinvasive species,soil conservation andwater conservation,vaccination of cattle, research,fire prevention, providingsalt licks, demarcation of boundary, erection ofwatch towers, maintenance ofnature trails,desalting water holes, development ofgrasslands, and procurement ofwirelesstwo-way radios.[9]
The Maharashtra government has plans to set up the Karadi-Bhogivhydro-electric project in the catchment area of the Warna Dam that is expected to use up 6.78 km2 (2.62 sq mi) of forest land. On a positive note, nearly 7,894 people and a significant cattle population resident on 84.29 km2 (32.54 sq mi) of land in 32 villages within the park. These villages have been successfullyrelocated to areas outside the park. This measure has helped to preserve and regenerate some of the vegetation in this protected area.[8]
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