The Anshi National Park is an evergreen tropical rainforest situated in
the North Kannada district in Karnataka. The park covering an area
of 340 sq km is considered as India’s most endangered wildlife park.
Anshi lies on the Karwar- Londa highway and is part of the Dandeli wildlife
sanctuary. Anshi got the designation as National Park in1987. Dandeli
is a small town located on the banks of the Kali river in Karnataka. The
forests around this town was established as Dandeli wildlife sanctuary
in 1975 with an area of around 500 sq kms. The Anshi National Park and
the adjoining Dandeli wildlife sanctuary together make up the Dandeli
Wildlife Division of the Karnataka Forest Department.
The topography of the park is such that it has deep
valleys, steep hill slopes and dense forests. The altitude of the park
varies from 200 m to 927 m and the temperature ranges between 16-37 degree
Celsius. The best time to visit the park is between November and
June. The unique feature of the park is that it is the only place
in Asia where black panther is found, naturally.
 The
forests of Anshi and Dandeli is rich in rare species of flora and
fauna. A wide variety of trees such as Teak (Tectona grandis), Silver
Oaks (Grevillea robusta), Eucalyptus, Weeds (Lantana, Eupatorium, Parthinium),
Bauhinia, Diodspyrus, Xylia xyrocarpa, Diospyrous Acacia and Bambusa are
found here.
The forest area was known for its manganese in the past,
the mining for which resulted in wildlife moving away from the forest.
In the recent past, the mining has been stopped and the animals are slowly
returning back. So chances of seeing Elephants /bison/panther are very
less and limited. Black panther, spotted deer, sambar, barking
deer, mouse deer, common langur, sloth bear, gaur (Indian bison), wild
boars, fox, bonnet macaque, slender loris, mongoose, tiger, jungle cat,
jackal, pangolin, elephants, Malabar giant squirrel and the porcupine
are now seen in the park. Reptiles include King cobra, python, rat snake,
viper and the krait.
Approximately 200 species of birds are found in the
park. Some of them are Malabar hornbills, Ashy swallow shirkes, drongos,
minivets, iora, brahminy kites, Ceylon frogmouth, yellow footed pigeon,
crested serpent eagle, adjutant stork, black crested baza and peafowls.
There is trekking facility from the Anshi nature camp
located 3kms off the park. All the 4 trekking routes commence from here.
The treks are 1) Anshi NC -Maingani village- Dodpoda nala- Anshi NC (5.0
kms) 2) Anshi NC- Anshi range office- Nesar temba- Anshi range office-
Anshi NC (10kms) 3) Anshi NC-Matgaon- Chandkunga- Vaki Road- Kadra veiw
point-Kadra (20 kms) 4) Anshi NC- Matgaon-Devarmane-Vaki Dam site- Anshi
NC (20 kms). The third trek is the most difficult. The Nature Camp is
well maintained with tented and dormitory accommodation and food arrangement.
There are ordinary and deluxe tents and a dorm has 16 beds and the price
ranges from 50- 70 for Indians and foreigners respectively.
There are many small brooks, springs and cascades in
the park. There are also small villages within the park area. The steep
roads inside the park takes one to the villages of Shivapura, Nethurga
and Sulageri in the deep desolate forests. Some of the tourist spots nearby
are the Ulvi Channabasaveshwara Temple just outside the southeastern boundary
of the Park, Kadra Valley view point (12 kms) and Karwar beach (55 kms).
The park is open to tourists from 6.00 in the morning to 6.00 in
the evening. The scenic and rustic river Kali flows through Dandeli wild
life sanctuary. This is the only river south of Himalayas where white
rafting is possible, making this place a unique destination.
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Wildlife 
