- The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared an area in the reserve forests of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri as the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Comprising an expanse of 686.406 sq.km, the sanctuary will be part of a protected landscape contiguous with the forests that currently constitute the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary which is shared between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary was notified under Section 26-A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The sanctuary will connect Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu with Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in neighboring Karnataka thereby forming a large, contiguous network of protected areas of wildlife.
- This newly notified sanctuary is an important habitat for elephants. It hosts two elephant corridors – the Nandimangalam-Ulibanda corridor and the Kovaipallam-Annebidahalla corridor.
- Ecosystem protection of the Cauvery basin is important for the conservation of Riverine species that depend on the Cauvery River. Conservation efforts in this area will seek to protect and restore habitat, reduce soil erosion.
Tamil Nadu notifies Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as 17th wildlife sanctuary of state
