Yadahalli Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary for Indian gazelles in Bagalkot, India.
Yadahalli Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, made up of shrubland and rocky terrain. The area is bounded by two rivers that provide water for the wildlife living there, including Indian gazelles, wolves, jackals, and hyenas.
The sanctuary was established in 2016 as Karnataka's first protected area dedicated specifically to the chinkara. It was created in response to the decline of this rare gazelle and the need to give it a safe and stable habitat.
The word "chinkara" comes from a local name for the Indian gazelle, and here you can see these animals moving freely across open rocky ground. The gazelle is considered a gentle creature in regional tradition, and its presence gives the place a quiet, unhurried character that visitors notice immediately.
A visit is easier during the drier months, when the tracks are more passable and wildlife tends to be more visible. Sturdy footwear is needed for the rocky ground, and going with a local guide will make it easier to spot animals across the open terrain.
The sanctuary contains over 80 tree species, some found only in southern India and others listed globally as vulnerable. This is often a surprise to visitors who come expecting to see only the gazelles, and find instead a plant life that is just as rare.
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