The sanctuary takes its name from the Bhadra River, its lifeline. Popularly known as Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary, after the village of its periphery, it is a great place to sight the tiger, observe the Indian bison, hear the strange calls of the striped hyena and spot the rare flying lizard. The southern part of the sanctuary is rich in birds, butterflies and reptiles. More than 250 species of birds, many of which are endemic to the Western Ghats, are spotted here.
Chikmagalur and Shimoga Districts; 492.46 sq km.
Moist and dry deciduous forests with patches of shola-grassland habitat are found at the higher altitudes.
These include the tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, elephant, gaur, sloth bear, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, slender loris and Malabar giant squirrel.
More than 250 birds have been identified. The ruby-throated bulbul, shama, Malabar whistling thrush, the four species of hornbill, racquet-tailed drongo and paradise flycatcher are some of them.
