12 November 2026: Telangana's Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is in the news - reports say its area has become a 'transit corridor' for illegal sand-carrying lorries, putting pressure on forest land, water sources and wildlife.
About Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: In the Warangal region (Mulugu) of Telangana, near the borders of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh; established in 1952; spread over about 812 sq km.
- Landscape: Three-fourths rising and falling plains with dense forest; the rest springs and streams. The Dayyam Vagu stream divides the sanctuary into two parts, and the Godavari River passes through it. The famous Sammakka-Saralamma temple lies inside the sanctuary.
- Region: Part of the wider forested landscape of the Godavari basin and the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic region.
Flora and fauna
- Flora: Southern tropical dry deciduous forest, with teak (Tectona grandis) as the dominant species; other species include Terminalia and Anogeissus.
- Fauna: Tiger, leopard, wolf, wild dog (dhole), jackal, sloth bear, chousingha, black buck, nilgai, sambar, spotted deer, chinkara, gaur and giant squirrel.
- Birds: Peafowl, junglefowl, crested serpent eagle, kingfishers, hornbills, painted storks and other resident and seasonal birds.
The sand-lorry threat
- Problem: Illegal sand mining and lorry movement damage forest paths, silt up water sources and fragment wildlife habitat.
- Legal framework: The sanctuary is a protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) notifications regulate activities around it - effective enforcement is the real test.
Quiz: Test your knowledge
Q1: Consider the following statements about Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary: 1. It is located in Telangana. 2. The Godavari River passes through it. 3. It was established in 1992. How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer and explanation: (b) Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong - it was established in 1952.
Q2: What is the dominant forest type of Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary?
(a) Tropical evergreen forest
(b) Southern tropical dry deciduous forest, dominated by teak
(c) Mangrove forest
(d) Coniferous mountain forest
Answer and explanation: (b) The sanctuary has southern tropical dry deciduous forest with teak (Tectona grandis) as the dominant species.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In short: Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a ~812 sq km protected area established in 1952 in Telangana; the Godavari flows through it and teak-dominated dry deciduous forest is its main forest type.
Question: Where is Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary located?
In the Warangal region (Mulugu) of Telangana, near the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.
Question: Which rivers or streams run through the sanctuary?
The Godavari River passes through it, and the Dayyam Vagu stream divides it into two parts.
Question: Which major animals are found here?
Tiger, leopard, wolf, dhole, sloth bear, chousingha, gaur, giant squirrel and many more mammals, besides birds such as painted storks and hornbills.
Sources:
Download this article: PDF