Ndizzy4glo at 18:20, 22 February 2026

2026-02-22T18:20:50Z

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{{Short description|Sloth bear sanctuary in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| image = MelursusUrsinusFemaleCub.jpg
| image_caption = A female [[sloth bear]] with cubs in the sanctuary
| map = India Karnataka#India
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| location = [[Ballari district]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Bellary|Ballari]], [[Ballari district]]
| coordinates = {{coords|15|14|N|76|31|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{Convert|82.72|km2|abbr=on}}
| established = 1994
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Kamalapura Wildlife Subdivision, Karnataka Forest Department
}}
[[File:Daroji Bear Sanctuary 2022 entrance board.jpg|thumb|The entrance board of Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary]]'''Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary''' is located in [[Ballari district]] in [[Karnataka]]. This is Asia's first sloth bear sanctuary. It is spread over {{Convert|82.72|km2|abbr=on}}. The sanctuary was created exclusively for the conservation of the [[sloth bear]]. It is about 50 km from [[Bellary|Ballari]] and about 15 km from the World Heritage Site [[Hampi]]. The area between [[Daroji]] in Sandur taluka and Ramasagar of Hospet Taluk is host to numerous [[sloth bear]]s.

In October 1994, the Government of Karnataka, declared 5587.30 hectares of the Bilikallu Forest Reserve as Daroji Bear Sanctuary.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/hubli/29858728_1_tourist-inflow-hampi-kamalapura
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725220251/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/hubli/29858728_1_tourist-inflow-hampi-kamalapura
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2013-07-25
|work=[[The Times of India]]
|title=Daroji bear sanctuary not a favourite among tourists
|accessdate=2013-05-07
}}</ref> 15 years later, in October 2009, the government added 2685.50 hectares of the Bukkasagara Forest Reserve to the sanctuary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aranya.gov.in/downloads/Daroji_MgmtPlan.pdf|title=Karnataka Forest Dept.: Management Plan for Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary 2011-12 - 2015-16|last=Kiran|first=M.N.|website=Karnataka Forest Dept.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014830/http://www.aranya.gov.in/downloads/Daroji_MgmtPlan.pdf|archive-date=2015-11-17|url-status=dead|access-date=16 July 2017}}</ref> This resulted in the overall area to increase from 5587.3 hectares to 8272.8 hectares.

The sanctuary is open between 14:00 and 18:00 every day. There is a watchtower within the sanctuary, opposite Karadikallu Gudda, that provides a vantage point to view the bears descending from the adjacent hillocks during evening hours.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.karnataka.com/tourism/sanctuary/daroji-sloth-bear-sanctuary/|title=Daroji Bear Sanctuary {{!}} Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary {{!}} Sanctuary in Hampi|date=2016-12-06|work=Karnataka.com|access-date=2017-07-16|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Mythology==
[[Kishkindha]], the historical kingdom of [[Sugriva]] described in [[Ramayana|the Ramayana]], is believed to be located on the bank of the [[Tungabhadra River]]. In the war against [[Ravana]], [[Kishkindha|Kishkinda]], the monkey kingdom of [[Sugriva]], was [[Rama|Rama’s]] ally. When [[Rama|Rama’s]] army crossed [[Hampi]] en route to [[Lanka]], they met [[Jambavantha]], a bear who joined the army.

==Flora and fauna==
The flora of this sanctuary is primarily dry deciduous scrub and Southern thorn forests. At the time of declaration of the sanctuary, it was a large area of barren hillocks, but persistent efforts from Karnataka Forest Department have transformed the area into lush green forest, filled with local flora.

The sanctuary's flagship species is the [[Sloth bear|Indian sloth bear (''Melursus ursinus)'']]. It has a very stable population of sloth bears and they reside in the numerous caves found in the hillocks within the sanctuary. [[leopard]]s, [[monitor lizard]]s, [[Indian grey mongoose|mongoose]], [[Indian pangolin|pangolins]], [[Indian star tortoise|star tortoises]] etc. are some of the other animals that abound in the sanctuary.

==Threats==
The bears are threatened due to illegal mining in fragmented areas of the adjoining forests. The forest department and NGOs have also rescued many domestic bears from [[Daroji]] and surrounding areas. The age old practice of capturing a bear cub (claws are pulled out and male cubs are castrated) and domestication by Kalandars has reduced to a great extent, due to laws declaring them illegal. The domesticated bears were taken from home to home across villages and made to dance according to the direction of the Kalandars.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/56936/meet-sloth-bear-daroji.html
|title=Meet the sloth bear at Daroji..
|publisher=
|accessdate=2013-05-07
}}</ref>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary}}
* http://www.junglelodges.com/sloth-bear-resort {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809191724/http://www.junglelodges.com/sloth-bear-resort |date=9 August 2013 }}
* https://jresearchbiology.com/documents/RA0330.pdf
* https://web.archive.org/web/20160225062532/http://jresearchbiology.redolences.com/documents/RA0331.pdf

== References ==
{{Reflist}}"An assessment of Floristic Diversity of Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Hospet, Bellary District, Karnataka, India". https://jresearchbiology.com/documents/RA0330.pdf

"Butterfly fauna of Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Hospet, Bellary District, Karnataka". https://web.archive.org/web/20160225062532/http://jresearchbiology.redolences.com/documents/RA0331.pdf

{{Protected areas of Karnataka}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wildlife Of Karnataka}}
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ballari district]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1984]]

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary - Revision history

Ndizzy4glo at 18:20, 22 February 2026