Why in News? 

Tension has grown in Sagar taluk, Karnataka, after farmers were arrested and later granted bail for entering the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary with country-made weapons. 

About Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary 

• Located in the Sharavathi River Valley, Sagar taluk, Shivamogga District, Karnataka. 
• Part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• Total area: Around 431.23 sq. km, including 124 sq. km of the Linganamakki reservoir. 
• Formed by merging the Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve and nearby reserve forest blocks. 
• Shares its southwestern boundary with Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Terrain and Vegetation 

• The terrain is highly undulating, with altitude ranging from 94 m to 1102 m. 
• Dominated by tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests, grasslands and savanna. 

Flora: Rich in tree species such as Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu and Nandi. 

Fauna 

• Major habitat for the endangered lion-tailed macaque, endemic to the Western Ghats. 
• Other animals include tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig, common langur, bonnet macaque and Malabar giant squirrel.