Tungabhadra River Ecology and Deccan Dry Forest of Koppal

The Tungabhadra river flowing through Koppal district supports a rich riparian ecology in an otherwise semi-arid granite boulder landscape. The river's seasonal flooding creates alluvial terraces where wild fig, Terminalia, and Mitragyna trees form gallery forest supporting bird and reptile populations. The granite inselbergs that characterise Koppal's landscape are unique ecological islands — supporting plants and invertebrates that survive on captured rainwater in rock pools. Indian Rock Pythons inhabit the boulder crevices, and Mugger crocodiles occur in the Tungabhadra. Traditional fishing communities maintain knowledge of the river's seasonal fish movements and have practised informal seasonal fishing bans near spawning areas for generations.