Bandipur Tiger Reserve, situated in the Mysore district of Karnataka, was among the first nine Tiger Reserves created in India at the launch of Project Tiger in 1973. It is contiguous to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu state to south and Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala state to the south-west. To the north-west lies Nagarhole National Park. Bandipur Tiger Reserve was formed by including most of the forest area of the then Venugopala Wildlife Park and its sanctum sanctorum at Bandipur, in the year 1973 and named Bandipur National Park. All the forests included in the Reserve are reserved forests notified prior to independence. Notification for the proposed Bandipur National Park was issued in 1985. This park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – the first 'Biosphere Reserve' of India.