KBR National Park

The K.B.R. National Park located in the posh Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad City was initially notified as a “Protected Forest” under Section 24 of A.P. Forest Act 1967 vide GO. Ms No.22 Energy & Forest Department dt 3.2.1994 and was named as Jubilee Hills Forest Block. Later on considering the ecological and biological significance, this area was notified as Jubilee Hills National Park U/S.35 of Wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. This National Park was subsequently renamed as Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park in memory of former Chief Minister of the Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. The final notification of this area as K.B.R. National Park was issued vide GO. Ms. No 187 EFS & T. Dept dt 3.12.1998 which was published in Andhra Pradesh extraordinary Gazette dated 5.12.1998. The total area of the National Park is 142.50 Hect.

As there is no buffer to this area, there are only two zones Conservation Zone and Visitor Zone. The larger part of the Protected Area falls in the Conservation zone and the Visitor zone forms a smaller portion towards the North. The park area being small and only 142.50 Ha in extent, the entire Forest Block falls in only one Compartment. The 142.50 Ha of park area is divided into two zones.
i). Conservation Zone : 86.50 Ha. ii) Visitor Zone : 56.00 Ha.

Conservation Zone: The entire park area of 142.50 Ha is to be managed as Conservation Zone. The park area has a protective wall around. The area is also not subjected to any biotic interference. The only activities to be taken up in the park are habitat improvement like Soil and Moisture Conservation works, Construction Water Harvesting structures, raising of indigenous fruit & fodder trees. Thus the Conservation Zone is left undisturbed to the extent possible to enable the ecological process to on unhinder.

Visitor’s Zone: As mentioned earlier, the entry of visitors into this park is to be strictly regulated as per the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The visitors entering the park will only be allowed to walk along the designated pathways to see the flora and fauna of this park and enjoy its wilderness. No vehicles will be allowed to move inside the park.

VEGETATION: The National Park is located in the Jubilee Hills/Banjara Hills areas, which are famous for their hilly terrain and rocky outcrops. The main vegetation of the area is shrub growth with sparse tree growth in depressions and valleys where the soil depth is adequate. In areas which are rocky and where the soil depth is less there is dense growth of grass. This area came into the possession of the Nizam during early 1960s and immediately a protective wall was constructed alround the park. The good protection accorded to the area and the elimination of biotic pressures helped the vegetation to rejuvenate and today the area has vegetation with the following composition.

The vegetation that exists in this area is described as Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests (5AC/3) as per Champion and Seth classification. Most of the important trees species local to such forests like Teak, Rosewood, Anogeisus, Lagerstromea, Cassias, Albizias, Accacias, Neem, Zizyphus, Bamboo, Sandal are Wood are represented in this park. The shrub layer, which came up, included Ullinta, Dante, Manga, Lantana, Carissa, etc. The ground layer consisted of several species of grass, herbs several of which are seasonal.

BIO-DIVERSITY OF THE NATIONAL PARK:-
i) Though the area of the National Park is only 352 Acres, it has a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
ii) Over 600 plant species including Sandalwood, Teak, Neem etc.
iii)20 Mammals like Hares, Porcupines, Civet cat, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Pangolin etc.
iv) 20 Reptiles and Amphibians like Cobra, Python, Monitor Lizards etc.
v) 133 Bird species like Peacock, Partridges, Quails, Owls etc.
vi) 20 Species of Butterflies and several other Invertebrates.

VISITATION TO THE NATIONAL PARK:- TIMINGS
Season Timings
Summer (Morning) 5.00 AM to 9.30 AM
Summer (Evening) 4.00 PM to 6.30 PM
Winter & Rainy (Morning) 5.00 AM to 9.30 AM
Winter & Rainy (Evening) 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM