Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in Uttara Kannada District, India

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Uttara Kannada District that covers 866 square kilometers (334 square miles) of deciduous forest with wide bamboo groves and teak plantations along the Kali River. The landscape shifts between dense undergrowth and open stretches near the water where visitors can watch animals drinking.

The area was forested land for centuries before being set aside as a reserve much later. In 2006, it merged with the neighboring Anshi National Park and became a tiger reserve.

The name Dandeli is tied in local tradition to Dandelappa, a deity, or to an old king called Dandakanayaka. The forest itself is mixed dense deciduous woodland with bamboo and teak plantations, and the Kali River runs through the reserve, where crocodile spotting and birdwatching draw visitors.

Visitors explore the reserve through guided tours, walks in the forest, or boat trips on the Kali River, which offer better chances to see wildlife near the shore. The best time to visit is outside the monsoon months when paths and waterways are easier to navigate.

Dandeli is the only tiger reserve in India reporting frequent black panther sightings, and it also shelters the Indian pangolin, the giant Malabar squirrel and the dhole. Nearly 270 bird species have been recorded, among them the great hornbill and the Malabar pied hornbill.