Sanctuary for Melagiri Campaign

The primary inspiration and the mission of Kenneth Anderson Nature Society is to campaign for the creation of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Tamil Nadu encompassing the rich forest tracts along the northern banks of the river Cauvery.

This, however, is not an easy campaign. Notification of forests with elevated levels of protection is always a matter of great impact in India and requires a convergence of governmental determination, administrative willingness, and public support. KANS is actively interacting with various stake holders to realise the creation of the much needed Sanctuary and is determined to pursue this campaign to the last mile. Most KANS projects and initiatives are selected and executed with a view to increase support for this one central mission: Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)

On May 2nd, 2013, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, reading out a statement under Rule 110 of the House, announced the setting up of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary  by bringing together reserve forests in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.

On February 24th, 2014, the Government of Tamil Nadu declared 504.334 sq km of reserve forests to the north of Cauvery in Krishanigiri and Dharmapuri districts as Cauvery North Wild Life Sanctuary under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 26-A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in Gazette No.II(2)/EF/254/2014.

About 500 sq km of forests in between the Cauvery North Sanctuary and the river Cauvery still remain as reserve forests. It has been proposed to bring these forests also under Cauvery Wildlfe Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, and this is being followed up by KANS.