Arasikere Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Arasikere Sloth Bear Sanctuary, located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, is a newly designated protected area covering around 10,000 hectares of dry deciduous forests that are home to approximately 60 sloth bears along with other wildlife such as leopards and blackbucks.

The sanctuary aims to protect these vulnerable bears by providing habitat restoration, creating water sources, de-silting tanks, and establishing anti-poaching measures. It also addresses challenges like bears straying into nearby human settlements in search of food and water and threats from nearby stone quarries.

The forest area includes scrub and grassland, supporting a diverse ecosystem, and the sanctuary status is expected to enhance conservation efforts and reduce human-animal conflict in the region.Arasikere Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Hassan, Karnataka, covers about 10,000 hectares of dry deciduous forests and is home to around 60 sloth bears along with leopards, blackbucks, and various medicinal plants.

The sanctuary was recently approved to protect the sloth bears better by improving their habitat, creating water holes, preventing poaching, and controlling conflicts with humans. The forest area supports diverse wildlife and includes scrub and grassland ecosystems. This new sanctuary status will help legally protect these animals from threats like nearby stone quarry operations and will enable enhanced conservation and habitat management efforts in the region.