In 1916, the British government declared Kudremukh region as reserved forest to stop slash and burn cultivation practices. A survey of the distribution of the endangered lion tailed macaque in Karnataka in 1983-84 by K Ullas Karanth, director, Centre for Wildlife Studies, a wildlife research institution in Bangalore, found the rainforest habitat suitable for lion-tailed macaque and that the tract probably harboured the species' largest contiguous population. The study suggested that lion tailed macaques could be used as a flagship species to conserve the biotic community. Karanth also prepared a conservation plan for the survival of the species, delineating the national park area. Based on his report, the Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board suggested to the government that Kudremukh National Park be created. Subsequently, the government declared Kudremukh a national park in 1987, and notified it in June 2001.