Gopintham is yet another location in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary with breathtaking views. Gopinatham is a village located in Chamarajanagar District, bordering Tamil Nadu. Gopinatham is also the birthplace of the notorious and infamous sandalwood brigand, Koose Munisami Veerappan.

Gopinatham is surrounded by thick scrub forest and picturesque mountainous terrain. It is situated at a very critical junction of the Western and the Eastern Ghats forming a significant corridor for the larger migrating mammals. It is also an important chain link for the diversity of the flora which ranges from the moist deciduous to southern tropical dry deciduous forests, to grasslands, to riparian vegetation.

Describing and listing the flora and fauna of the bio-diverse landscape of Gopinatham is a humongous task. However, a representative description of the plant and animal species found here are indicated below.

Moist deciduous forests are usually found above 900 meters and some common species of trees which are found here are Pterocarpus marsupium, Tectona grandis, Mangifera indica. Dalbergia latifolia, Adina cordifolia, Vitex altissima, Anogeissus latifolia and Bridelia retusa.

While in the scrub jungles, it is mostly inhabited by Hardwickia binata, Senegalia catechu, Albizia amara (or Acacia armata).

Mostly it is, Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini, a few species of Ficus trees that line the banks of Cauvery. Some studies suggests that Terminalia arjuna is a key stone species of riparian habitats in Cauvery River banks / South India, as higher native plant diversity and soil carbon content was observed under its canopy as opposed to areas devoid of Terminalia arjuna where the dominance of non-native species was evident.

Thus, the riparian habitat is ideal for freshwater species such as the mugger or marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), orange finned (or hump backed) masheer (Tor remadevii), smooth coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), and so on. The arboreal, grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura), which is endemic to southern India, is found in the riparian forests of Gopinatham / Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

The riverine ecosystem is a saviour also for the large mammals that are drawn to the water streams during peak summers. A high density of elephants (elephant (Elephas maximus), makes Gopinatham / Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary a haven for wild inhabitants, as elephants are known to be the farmers / gardeners of the forests.

Large mammals include tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), jackal (Canis aureus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), gaur (Bos gaurus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), sambar (Rusa unicolor), chital (Axis axis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), mouse deer (Moschiola indica), tufted grey langur (Semnopithecus priam), bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), black-naped hare (Lepus nigricollis), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), the endangered Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the endemic Madras tree shrew (Anathana ellioti).

Honey badger (Mellivora capensis), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), rusty spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites), Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii), ruddy mongoose (Herpestes smithii), are some of the smaller carnivores.

The vultures are the scavengers of the forest and help in keeping the health of the forest. White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) and Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) that are critically endangered, are found here.

Some rare birds found here are the Nilgiri wood-pigeon (Columba elphinstonii), greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga), whitenaped tit (Parus nuchalis), pied-crested tit (Parus nuchalis) and yellow-throated bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus).

The Cauvery river basin is also important area for the winter migrants such as the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) and the vulnerable Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga).

This unique landscape comprising of mountains, grasslands and the river banks makes the stretch of Cauvery river a perfect balance for all life forms to thrive.

Places that are of tourist attractions around Gopinatham are the Hogenakal falls, which is 12 kilometers from Gopinatham. Yekehalla, is a place of honour, where a memorial is built by Karnataka Forest Department to remember P. Srinivas, (Deputy Conservator of Forests) who was beheaded by Veerappan.

A tourist attraction, a trekking trail, and a unique camping experience - that is what is Gopinatham Mystry Trails is all about.

Reference for flora and fauna species as mentioned in the study report titled “Variation in leopard density and abundance: multi-year study in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, September 2021”

Facilities available

Stay at JLR Mistry trail camp, toilet, drinking water sit out area and parking