Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is a part of the Kaveri River on the Southern Deccan Plateau. This region comprises gently rolling plains traversed by several of the large rivers that rise in the Western Ghats mountain range and flow eastward to the Bay of Bengal. The Site is an ecologically important riverine wetland, rich in plant and animal species. It supports healthy populations of mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and hump-backed mahseer (Tor remadevii). The Site also supports over 1% of the global population of painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) and black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) and as such it is classified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). The wetland is well known for nature tourism which generates considerable revenue for local authorities and communities and also provides educational and research opportunities. The Site is classified as an Eco-Sensitive Zone and a management plan is currently being implemented to safeguard its ecological integrity as well as the ecosystem services provided to the local communities.