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Site description (2004 baseline):

Hampi, which was founded in the 14th century as the capital of the Vijaynagar Empire, lies in the heartland of the Deccan Karnataka state. It is 350 km from Bangalore. The Hampi ruins are spread over an area of about 26 sq. km, protected by the River Tungabhadra to the north and by rocky granite ridges on the three other sides. Near this historic archaeological site lies the Daroji Bear Sanctuary, spread over an area of 5,600 ha. The Daroji Bear Sanctuary and Hampi monuments which are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India together provide a safe haven for birds and other fauna.

AVIFAUNA: This site has been selected an IBA as it holds a significant population of Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus, a globally threatened species, of which it is a well-known habitat. More than 100 years ago, Allen (1908) saw about 20 pairs in June 1901 in Bellary district. Subramanaya (pers. comm. 2003) has seen the species in June 1990 during a short trip. This species is restricted to the southern Deccan plateau (BirdLife International 2001). Protection of its dry thorny habitat in the name of Daroji Bear Sanctuary would provide a much-needed respite from the habitat destruction that has been going on. The bulbul is common wherever the habitat is relatively intact (Subramanya et al. 1995; in press), leading Grimmett et al. (1998) to the conclusion that the species is common but very localised. The total numbers cannot be high due to habitat constraints (BirdLife International 2001). Not much is known about other birds of this area. This is one of the few sites in India selected as an IBA only on the basis of one known globally threatened species.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: No information.

MAIN THREATS: Disturbance to birds; Tourism; Excavation at Hampi; Habitat alteration.

Hampi is now included in the UNESCO list of places of global significance, and needs a master plan for its conservation. The Karnataka Government, together with the Archaeological Survey of India and assistance from UNESCO, the Smithsonian Institution, and several other countries, has undertaken the gigantic task of excavation in the 26 sq. km city. The principal remains are being mapped and many areas excavated to view remains of temples, tanks and other structures that have lain buried for centuries. A number of structural remains and scriptures are being carefully restored, in addition to partial rebuilding and replacement of building elements. In the late 1990s Karnataka’s first and southern India’s only sanctuary for bear -the Daroji Bear Sanctuary, began taking shape near the Hampi ruins. The final notification of this Sanctuary has been completed. The Sanctuary will be of great advantage for the fauna of Hampi, which sometimes encounter disturbance caused by the tourists who visit the site.

Key contributors: S. Subramanaya and Vijay Mohan Raj.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hampi and Daroji Bear Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hampi-and-daroji-bear-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/11/2024.