Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary

Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary is a wildlife protected area in Haveri district, Karnataka, established in 1974 primarily to conserve the blackbuck population. It spans about 119 square kilometers and is divided into a core zone of around 15 sq km and a larger buffer zone where tourists can visit. The landscape mainly consists of scrub forest and eucalyptus plantations, surrounded by agricultural fields.

The sanctuary is home to over 6,000 blackbucks along with other animals like wolves, wild boars, foxes, jackals, langurs, porcupines, pangolins, and various bird species such as peafowl and black drongo. It is also one of the few habitats of the endangered great Indian bustard, although this bird has not been seen recently and may be locally extinct. Visitors can spot blackbucks best between October and March. The sanctuary offers opportunities for eco-tourism, bird watching, and educational nature camps.

It is located about 8 km from Ranibennur town and is accessible by road with facilities like a forest rest house and guided safaris to protect wildlife. The forest department also works with local communities to balance conservation and agriculture needs, including compensating farmers for crop damage caused by wildlife.