STUDY AREA
Shimogga district is a part of malnad region of Karnataka and is also
known as the ‘ Gateway to Malnad ’, There is a seven taluks: Soraba,
Sagara, Hosanagara, Shimogga, Shikaripura, Thirthalli & Bhadravathi,
district situated between the latitudes 130271 and 140 391 N
and between the longitudes 740 381and 760 041 at mean altitude of 640
meters above sea level . Peak Kodachadri hill is at an altitude of 1343
meters above sea level is the highest point in the district. Shimogga
district is rich in diversity of flora and fauna. District covers
evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous, scrub forest, and grasslands .(
figure. 1.)