National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary And Tiger Reserves In News

National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserves in News

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh.
Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. It represents Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forests in the Tiger habitat and has a viable tiger population.
The Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh as the best in terms of good management practices.
The Ratapani Tiger Reserve, located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, in Vindhya Range in central India, is one of the finest teak forests in the state and is less than 50 km. away from the capital Bhopal. It has been a wildlife sanctuary since 1976.
Karnataka’s Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, one of the country’s most famous ones, home to over 200 species of birds. Many of them — white storks, northern shovellers, wagtails and warblers — are migrants from as far as Central Asia, Siberia and the Himalayas.
A recent study on “prescribed burning” of large tracts of grassland for the conservation of threatened ungulates in the Eravikulam National Park (ENP), a biodiversity hotspot in the Western Ghats, reveals that such burning is detrimental to endemic invertebrates, including grasshoppers. Though prescribed burning was experimentally introduced in the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PKMTR) recently, another habitat of the Nilgiri tahr. Situated at Kerala. It is located in the Kannan Devan Hills of the Southern Western Ghats in the Idukki District, Kerala State. The annual census of Nilgiri tahr held at Eravikulam National Park (ENP) has shown an increase of 145. The area of survey included Shola National Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. The areas outside the ENP were included as the Nilgiri tahrs were found in a wide area. The survey team also recommended for controlled burning of the grasslands in Kadavari of Kurinjimala sanctuary and Kasimala of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary for providing enough grazing land and ensuring the healthy growth of tahr population.
BRT Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Karnataka.
A species of wood snake that wasn’t seen for 140 years has resurfaced in a survey conducted by scientists in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The species is endemic to the Meghamalai forests and the Periyar Tiger Reserve landscape. Situated at Kerala.
Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, located in North Chamoli, in the state of Uttarakhand.
Together, they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. Both parks are encompassed in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (223,674 ha) which is further surrounded by a buffer zone. Nanda Devi National Park Reserve is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Situated around the peak of Nanda Devi in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. The Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks are exceptionally beautiful high-altitude West Himalayan landscapes with outstanding Biodiversity. Situated in the Himalayas, covering 71,210 ha, is one among the seven ‘World Heritage Sites’ in India.
Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at
Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) is situated in Rajasthan after Ranthambore and Sariska.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is at Kerala.
Chitwan National Park in Nepal. Anthropogenic threats like illegal fishing and sand mining pose a threat to the mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus plaustris) of the Rapti river flowing along the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in south-central Nepal, contiguous to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar.
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is the only place in Kerala where star tortoises are known to occur in the wild. Recently a rare bird species ‘Sri Lankan Frogmouth’ was seen in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. Least Concern as per IUCN Status.
Researchers at Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun have reported presence of a small population of hog deer in Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) in Manipur. The Keibul Lamjao National is considered as a biodiversity hotspot on India-Myanmar border.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve located in Kerala.
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest Tiger reserve in India. It is located Telangana.
Kawal and Amrabad Tiger Reserve are situated in Telangana state.
The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area in Uttar Pradesh that stretches mainly across the Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts. It comprises of the Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at
Dachigam National Parknear Srinagar is considered the last undisturbed home of the Hangul.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is in Maharashtra. It is located in Mumbai. It has a protected archaeological site called Kanheri caves.
The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuaryis a wildlife sanctuary is located in the state of Odisha. The sanctuary is home to a herd of Blackbuck. Olive Ridley Sea Turtles nest on the beaches.
Namdapha National Park lies at the international border between India and Myanmar within Changlang District in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is only parked in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa). Hoolock Gibbons, the only ‘ape’ species found in India is found in this National Park.
Dampa Tiger Reserve is at Mizoram
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world and second highest concentration in Assam after Kaziranga National Park. It is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ due to similar landscape and vegetation. The wildlife sanctuary is home to endangered one-horned rhinoceros and the other mammals
Guru Ghasidas National Parkwill be Chattisgarh’s 4th tiger reserve. Achanakmar, Udanti- Sitanadi and Indravati tiger reserves are other 03 tiger reserves.
Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)is situated in Andhra Pradesh.
The Panna tiger reserve is situated in the Vindhya mountain rangein the northern part of Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh has the highest numberof tigers in the country. Ken river(a tributary of the Yamuna River) flows through the reserve. Ken-Betwa river interlinking project will be located within the tiger reserve. Recently, Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh (MP) was included in the global network of biosphere reserves by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area in Uttar Pradesh located on the India-Nepal border. It is the only place in U.P. where both Tigersand Rhinos can be spotted together.
Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary is at Nagaland.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaryis part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve along with Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley. It has the world’s largest recorded population of the Asiatic elephant. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the 13 sanctuaries in the protected areas of the state of Kerala.
Bandipur National Parkis part of interconnected forests that include Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) and Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka). It has the second-highest tiger population in India after Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh). Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers followed by Karnataka.
Papikonda National Park is located in the Papi Hills in East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The park lies on the left and right banks of the river Godavari and cuts through the Papikonda hill range of Eastern Ghats. The River Godavari enriches the Papikonda Park with its natural beauty.
Recently, the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board has cleared a proposal by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)to introduce rhinoceroses in the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR).
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary was constituted in 1987 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1973 for the purpose of Protecting, Propagating or developing Wildlife and its environment. Cauvery supports a diversified aquatic fauna, predominant species being Crocodiles (listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act), Ottersand Hump-backed Mahseer Fish.
The Dnyanganga Sanctuaryis situated in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra. It is a part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. It is located near the Dnyanganga River which is a tributary of the Tapti River.
Tipeshwar Tiger Reserve is located in Yawatmal district of The rivers such as Purna, Krishna, Bhima, and Taptiflow through the sanctuary. Due to the presence of a sufficient quantity of water, it is also popularly known as Green Oasis of Maharashtra.
Mukurthi National Park is in Tamil Nadu. The ecologically-sensitive area of Naduvattam, adjoining the Mukurthi National Park is at risk, due to the construction of buildings as well as an illegal road cutting through forest land. Naduvattam area has a very high diversity of endemic species, second only to Cispara in the Mukurthi National Park. The area also serves as a crucial corridor for wildlife connecting Mukurthi National Park, the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Gudalur, with tigers, elephants, Indian gaur, Sambar deer, Nilgiri langur, the Nilgiri laughing thrush, the Nilgiri pipit and other wildlife spotted in the area frequently.
Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary and Kuno National Park were at Madhya Pradesh.
Bhitarkanika National Park- Second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India, the first being Sundarbans (West Bengal) situated at Odisha. The Odisha forest department has started a two-year conservation project for fishing cats in Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district.
Gahiramatha Marine Sanctuary Known as the world’s largest Olive Ridley rookery is too at Odisha.
Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, Mollem National Park, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary were located at Goa.
The Jatayu and Sparrow Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore (JCBC), is world’s largest facility within Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary for the breeding and conservation of Indian vultures and House sparrowin the State of Haryana, India. It covers 5 acres (2.0 ha), and its focus is the conservation, study, and breeding of critically endangered and threatened species of vultures on the IUCN Red List.
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary also known as the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat state of India. The sanctuary is one of the last places on earth where the endangered wild ass sub-species Indian Wild Ass (Khur) (Equus hemionus khur) belonging to Asiatic Wild Ass species Onager(Equus hemionus) can be spotted.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuaryis also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river. Riverine reed beds cover the banks of the islands, while the islands themselves are covered in broadleaf forests, with dominant species being Terminalia arjuna (Arjun tree), bamboo groves, and Pandanus trees.
Lemru Elephant Reserve (LER) is situated in the state of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh has two national parks, three tiger reserves, eight sanctuaries, and one biosphere reserve, which is 8.36% of the state’s total geographical area and 18.92 % of the state’s total forest area. At present there are three tiger reserves in state: Achanakmar Tiger Reservein Bilaspur, Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Gariaband and Indravati Tiger Reserve in Bijapur district. Badalkhol Tamorpingla, the other elephant reserve measuring 1048.30 sq km, was notified in September 2011. Tamorpingla wildlife sanctuary exists in the state but no work on the elephant reserve has begun. Chhattisgarh has two national parks, three tiger reserves, eight sanctuaries, and one biosphere reserve covering 11,310.977 sq km, which is 8.36% of its geographical area and 18.92% of its total forest area.
The six new sites identified for possible lion relocation in the future include:
1. Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh
2. Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan
3. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
4. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
5. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan
6. Jessore-Balaram Ambaji WLS and adjoining landscape, Gujarat
Rajaji National Park is home to the Van Gujjars in the winters.Van Gujjars are one of the few forest-dwelling nomadic communities in the country. Located in Uttarakhand along the foothills of the Shivalik range. It is also a Tiger Reserve.
Pakke or Pakhui Tiger Reserve(PTR) lies in the foothills of the eastern Himalaya in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. It falls within the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot. It is known for its amazing sightings of four resident hornbill species. This Tiger Reserve has won India Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category of ‘Conservation of threatened species’ for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme. Towards the south and south-east, the sanctuary adjoins reserve forests and Assam’s Nameri National Park
Nameri National Park is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the Sonitpur District of Assam. The Pakhui (Pakke) Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh adjoinsthe Park on its North-Eastern point. Nameri is also declared as Tiger Reserve in the year 1999-2000, which is the 2nd Tiger reserve of Assam after Manas Tiger Reserve. It has 2 core areas: Nameri National Park & Sonai- Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (Satellite Core of the Nameri Tiger Reserve). The main Rivers are Jia- Bhoroli and Bor Dikorai.
Best & Worst Protected Areas of India as per MOEFCC:
1. BEST- Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh
2. WORST- Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh
Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary and the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu
Aghanashini Lion-tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve in Karnataka
Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam have been established for conserving specific taxa
Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in Sikkim
Sessa Orchid Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. a natural home to more than 236 species of orchids, as well as a wealthy diversity of mushrooms and other medicinal plants. Orchid growth depends on its own micro-climate. This basically means a specific kind of orchid grows in a climate unique to itself — a local set of conditions that differ from those in the surrounding areas. Sessa Orchid Sanctuary is bordered with Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuaryin its Southwest. In fact, Sessa itself has at least five endemic species of orchids — Biermannia jainiana, Gastordia arunchalansis, Epipogium sessanum, among others. Nearly half (612 out of 1256) of India’s orchid species can be found here.
Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. Located in the western Satpura Range south of the Narmada River Shares a common boundary with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Encompasses mixed dry deciduous forest, riverine forest, few pockets of moist teak forest.
A Black leopard was sighted in Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve. BRT tiger area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1987 and in 2011 it was declared as a Tiger Reserve Forest. BRT shares its borders with Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and Sathyamangala Tiger Protection Forest.
India’s Protected Areas within Terai Arc Landscape:
1. Valmiki National Park, India
2. Sohelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, India
3. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, India
4. Dudhwa National Park, India
5. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, India
6. Corbett National Park, India
7. Rajaji National Park, India
8. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, India
Jim Corbett National Park 1st national park of India, Uttarakhand. 1st to come under the Project Tiger initiative. aptly named Hailey National Park. renamed in 1955 as Ramganga National Park and was again renamed in 1956 as Corbett National Park. one of the thirteen protected areas covered by the World-Wide Fund For Nature under their Terai Arc Landscape Program. The program aims to protect three of the five terrestrial flagship species, the tiger, the Asian elephant and the great one-horned rhinoceros.
The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Goa’s smallest protected area. Located on Chorão, one of Goa’s estuarine islands in the Mandovi river.
Pobitora WLS: Earlier a grazing reserve and notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1998 of Assam. Has the highest density of rhino population in the world.Include the area of Pobitora Reserve Forest, the adjacent Rajamayong Hills as well as the khas land which connects the two areas.
Lonar lake is now the 41st Ramsar Site of India. The lake falls under the unified control of the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), Amravati.
Pandharkawda Wildlife Division in Yavatmal district consisting of Tipeshwar and Painganga Wildlife Sanctuaries has now been transferred to Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary: Spread across 132 square kilometres in Mandi and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. Harbours animals such as leopards, barking deer, black bear, ghoral, jackal and flying squirrel and birds such as Himalayan monal, white crested kalij and chukor. Flora found in the sanctuary includes deodar, kharsu, fir, maple, rhododendron, ban and several other tree species.
Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary: Owes its name to the narrow stretch of River Mahanadi. Spreads out in four districts of Odisha namely Angul, Budh, Cuttack and Nayagarh. The Satkosia Gorge is a unique feature in geomorphology of India because here Mahanadi cuts right across the Eastern Ghats and has formed a magnificent gorge. Known for Gharials, Mugger crocodile and rare freshwater turtles like Chitra indica and Indian softshell turtle.
Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary: Situated in western Assam, close to the Bhutan border.Biggest habitat of the golden langur, one of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world. Golden langurs are endemic to Bhutan and India (Assam). Situated between the Manas river in the east, Sankosh river in the west, and the Brahmaputra river in the south in western Assam’s Kokrajhar and Dhubri district, is the species’ biggest habitat.
Nagi-Nakti Bird Sanctuaries: Hosted Bihar’s first state-level bird festival ‘Kalrav’. Globally important for conservation of birds’. The Nagi Dam and Nakti Dam are so close to each other. Other Bird Sanctuaries of Bihar:Gautam Budha bird sanctuary, Gaya, Kawar Jheel bird sanctuary, Bigusarai, Kusheshwar asthan bird sanctuary, Darbhanga.
Indian Muraingrass recently discovered in Western Ghats “outskirts of Goa’s Bhagwan Mahavir National Park”.
Kalesar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary: Sharing boundaries with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Full of wild animals protected under Schedule-1 and Schedule-2 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Leopards, wild boars, civet, jungle cats, porcupines are in abundance. Notified on December 13, 1996, Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 13,209 acres. It is situated in the Shivalik foothills and shares its boundary with Uttar Pradesh in the east and Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal in the north.
Gorumara National Park: Northern West Bengal, India. Known for its population of Indian rhinoceros.Located-Eastern Himalayas’ submontane Terai belt. Rolling forests and riverine grasslands and is known as the Dooars in West Bengal. Located on the flood plains of the Murti River and Raidak River. Jaldhaka River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river system. Close to Jaldapara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Reserve.
Dibru-Saikhowa is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in Assam. The forest type of Dibru-Saikhowa comprises semi-evergreen forests, deciduous forests, littoral and swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests. It is the largest swamp forest in north-eastern India. It is an identified Important Bird Area (IBA), notified by the Birdlife International. It is most famous for the rare white-winged wood ducks as well as feral horses. Maguri Motapung wetland is a part of the Reserve.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) is sandwiched between the Brahmaputra river and the Karbi Anglong Hills. The entire area is formed by alluvial deposits from the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. Assam has decided to upgrade the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary into a national park. Located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts. Forms the largest stretch of lowland rainforest in the country. Importance for elephant habitat. Declared as Dehing-Patkai Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant. Also known as the Jeypore Rainforest. Only sanctuary in India which is home to seven different species of wild cats – tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, leopard cat, golden cat, jungle cat and marbled cat. A deciduous rainforest interspersed with semi-evergreen and lush green flora.
Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary. 18th WS of Kerala. Comprise the new Amarambalam reserve forest and Vadakkekotta vested forest. Primitive Cholanaikar tribes has been exempted from the sanctuary. Borders the Mukkuruthi National Park in the south and the Silent Valley National Park buffer zone in the northeast.
Nagarhole National Park Located in Karnataka. One of India’s premier Tiger Reserves. Adjoining Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Water sources-Kabini River. Flagship species like Bengal tiger, gaur and Indian elephants. Recognised as an Important Bird Area. Primary inhabitants- Jenu Kurubas tribe.
Mount Harriet National Park. It is located in the south of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Mount Harriet is the third-highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago next to Saddle Peak in North Andaman and Mount Thuillier in Great Nicobar. The park is covered with evergreen forest pockets. It is rich in flora and faunal species like andaman wild pigs, saltwater crocodiles, butterflies and palm trees.
Kanha National Park: This place is spread across two districts Mandala and Kalaghat in Madhya Pradesh. Largest National Park in Central India
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located on the Western Ghats, in Kerala, and is covered in tropical and semi-evergreen forests. It provides the habitat for elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Nilgiri Langur, Hanuman Langur and the Malabar Giant Squirrel.
Sariska Tiger Reserve: This is located in the Alwar district in Rajasthan, and mainly comprises arid forests, grasslands and rocky hills. Leopard, jungle cat, stripped hyena and Golden Jackal are some of the animals.
Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Andhra Pradesh, India. The sanctuary is a part of the mangrove wetland in Andhra Pradesh and is located in the coastal plain of Krishna delta, spread across Krishna and Guntur districtsof Andhra Pradesh. The estuary of the Krishna River passes through the sanctuary.
Madhav National Park is situated in Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh. It is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills. Madhav National Parkis a part of the Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) Tiger Corridor of Central India & Eastern Ghats landscape.
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a population of Asian elephants. The sanctuary is covered by southern tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests.
A black panther was spotted in Goa’s Netravali Sanctuary. Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in South Eastern Goa and constitutes one of the vital corridors of the Western Ghats. It is bounded by Cotigao wildlife sanctuary on the eastern side and Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park on the northern side.
The 14 tiger reserves which have been accredited Global CA|TS recognition are Manas, Kaziranga and Orang in Assam, Satpura, Kanha and Panna in Madhya Pradesh, Pench in Maharashtra, Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh, Sunderbans in West Bengal, Parambikulam in Kerala, Bandipur Tiger Reserve of Karnataka and Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the eco-sensitive zone of the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary on the south-western edge of Guwahati. The Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary (DBWS) is located at Kamrup district in Guwahati, Assam. Deepar Beel is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Assam and the State’s only Ramsar site besides being an Important Bird Area.
Recently, the Chhattisgarh government is facing objections from its own legislators, including a minister, to its plan to further decrease the area of the proposed Lemru Elephant Reserve.
The Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary has been approved as 52nd Tiger Reserves of India and 4th Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan. Buffer for the Ranthambore National Park. Comprises of hilly dry deciduous forests on Vindhyan formations. Development of the Ramgarh Vishdhari area allows them to connect the entire belt from Ranthambore to Ramgarh in Bundi and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota. Other TRs in Rajasthan are: Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundra tiger reserves.
A rare melanistic leopard, popularly called black leopard, was spotted in the Navegaon block of the Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in the Gondia district of Maharashtra. Earlier this year, the rare black leopard has been cited at Tadoba National Park, in the Chandrapur district. Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve was notified as 46th tiger reserve of India in 2013 and the 5th tiger reserve of Maharashtra. Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve is situated in Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra.
It is amazing to know that a tiny protected area measuring just 270.57 hectares (ha) serves as the green lungs to a great metropolitan city in Tamil Nadu. This is the Guindy National Park, located in the heart of Chennai’s metropolitan area.
The Raimona National Park in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district has boosted the protection of the Greater Manas Landscape besides fulfilling the recommendation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site committee. Raimona National Park recently declared as the 6th National Park of Assam. Situated in Kokrajhar district under the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), bordering Bhutan. Part of the buffer of the Manas Tiger Reserve. Raimona was bounded on the west by the Sonkosh river along the Assam-West Bengal border running southward from the India-Bhutan border and the Saralbhanga river on the east till it touched the India-Bhutan border on the north and the southern part of the Ripu Reserve Forest. The Pekua river defines Raimona’s southern boundary. Raimona also shares contiguous forest patches of the Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park in Bhutan creating a transboundary conservation landscape. Raimona is an integral part of the 2,837 sq. km Manas Biosphere Reserve and the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve.
Dihing Patkai National Park notified as 7th National Park of Assam. Falling in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts in upper Assam Contiguous stretch of forests, starting from Upper Dihing Reserve Forests in the East (under Digboi Division, Tinsukia District) up to the Jeypore RF (under Dibrugarh Division, Dibrugarh District), Comprises some pristine forests along the Assam-Arunachal interstate boundary
The Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary and Ranipur wildlife sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh was also in news for the race of Tiger Reserves.
Narcondam Island Wildlife Sanctuary is notified as a protected reserve by the government of India. It is also listed on the UNESCO’s tentative Lists of World Heritage Sites. Narcondam, India’s easternmost Island, is a small volcanicisland located in the northern Andaman Sea. Narcondam Island is almost entirely covered with Evergreen and Moist Deciduous forest. The island is covered with Tropical Evergreen forest, Semievergreen forest, Moist Deciduous forest, Littoral forest and Mangrove forest. Nicobar Flying Fox Pteropus faunulus and Narcondam Small Flying Fox Pteropus hypomelanus are the most common mammals on this island.
The Maharashtra government declared the Tillari forest area in the Dodamarg and Sawantwadi range in coastal Sindhudurg district as a conservation reserve area.
Virunga National Park, which is famous for its mountain gorillas, is situated in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Four sites — three in Madhya Pradesh and one in Rajasthan — have been selected by a Supreme Court-appointed to reintroduce the cheetah into India. The sites include Kuno National Park, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gandhi Sagar-Chittorgarh in Madhya Pradesh and Bhainsrogarh Sanctuary in Rajasthan.
Maguri Motapung is a critical part of the Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve, an ecological corridor to Namdhapa National Park & sustains the ecological integrity of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
The Haryana state forest department plans to recommend the Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram and the Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary in Jhajjar district for declaration as Ramsar sites. Both are popular birding destinations, providing habitat for a large variety of resident and migratory species, and happen to be the only two such water bodies in Haryana with legal protection under the MoEFCC’s Wetland Rules (2017).
Endangered marine species like the Olive Ridleys are to be protected under Scheduled 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The state’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles.
Raika-Bahu is an eco-sensitive area under the Bahu Conservation Reserve in Jammu. It is home to species like rock pigeon, Asian koel, barn owl, red-vented bulbul, jackal, wild boar and rhesus monkey. It is located just 3.75 km from Ramnagar Wildlife Raika-Bahu forest area, situated in the middle of the reserve along river Tawi, also supports the Gujjar community which rears goats, cows and buffaloes.
Asola-Bhati Wildlife Sanctuaryis located on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hill range on Delhi-Haryana border lies in Southern Delhi as well as northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana state. Biodiversity significance of Ridge lies in its merger with Indo-Gangetic plains, as it is the part of the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor, an important wildlife corridor which starts from the Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, passes through Nuh, Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana and ends at Delhi Ridge. It is contiguous to the seasonal waterfalls in Pali-Dhuaj-Kot villages of Faridabad and the sacred Mangar Bani.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued draft eco-sensitive zone notifications for areas around Silent Valley National Park, Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary in Malappuram and Palakkad districts of Kerala.
The National Chambal Sanctuaryis located along river Chambal on the tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is known for critically endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle, and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. In India, the National Chambal Sanctuary holds about 90% of the surviving gharials.
The Ranthambore forest reserve consists of highly fragmented forest patches, ravines, river streams, and agricultural land. The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is connected to the Kuno-Palpur landscape in Madhya Pradesh through parts of the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, the ravine habitats of Chambal and the forest patches of Sheopur. Tributaries of river Chambal provide easy passage for tigers to move towards the Kuno National Park.
Recently, Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) have shoot in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert. The grassland habitat with adult grass cover in the Cholistan desert, where the GIBs were foraging, is very similar to the habitat in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park (DNP), where the GIB’s last remnant wild population is found. The DNP, situated near the towns of Jaisalmer and Barmer, forms a part of the mighty Thar desert.
Laokhowa WLS, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park are situated in the state of Assam.
The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Kali Tiger Reserve (earlier called the Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve).
The disk-footed bat (Eudiscopus denticulus) was recorded in the north-eastern State’s Lailad area near the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, about 1,000 km west of its nearest known habitat in Myanmar.
In January 2021, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife(NBWL) denotified the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to allow for the port there and an Environment Ministry Expert Committee approved a “zero extent” Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) for the Galathea National Park to allow the use of land. Galathea Bay is an iconic nesting site in India of the enigmatic Giant Leatherback, the world’s largest marine turtle. It is located on the island of Great Nicobar in the Nicobar Islands, which lie in the eastern Indian Ocean. Galathea National Park is a national park located in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. It is located on the island of Great Nicobar in the Nicobar Islands, which lie in the eastern Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal). Galathea forms part of what has been designated as the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, which also includes the larger Campbell Bay National Park. Notable animal species found in the park include the giant robber crab, megapode and Nicobar pigeon.
The Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital passed an interim order upholding the right of a qafila (caravan) of Van Gujjars to migrate to their summer homesteads in the bugyals (Himalayan alpine meadows) located within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarkashi district. The Van Gujjars, the nomadic pastoral community of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The Van Gujjars pursue seasonal migration from the Terai-Bhabar and Siwalik region of Uttarakhand to the higher bugyalsin the Western Himalayas in summer and vice versa in winter.
Blackbucks are found only in the Ganjam district in the southern part of the state, which is where the census was carried out. It used to be sighted in the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary in Puri district. The blackbuck is a Schedule-1 animal according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 1992) and is considered as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the Red Data Book. The blackbuck is known in Odisha and Ganjam as Krushnasara Mruga. The people of Ganjam had been enthusiastically protecting the animal like the Bishnois of western Rajasthan and the Vala Rajputs of Saurashtra. The animal featured in the history, folklore and religious sentiments of people in the district, especially the Balipadar-Bhetanai areas.
Banni Grasslands Reserveor Banni grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch in Kutch District, Gujarat State, India. They are known for rich wildlife and biodiversity and are spread across an area of 3,847 square kilometres. They are currently legally protected under the status as a protected or reserve forest in India. Though declared a protected forest more than half a century ago Gujarat state’s forest department has recently proposed a special plan to restore and manage this ecosystem in the most efficient way. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified this grassland reserve as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India and a possible reintroduction site for the species. Banni grassland is peculiar to the Rann of Kutch, it has some forty Sindhi speaking Maldhari (cattle breeders) hamlets.
Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) and the University of Kerala have discovered a new plant subspecies in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS), Kollam, Kerala. The flowering plant, Rungia longifolia subsp. keralensis, has been discovered from the Western Ghats. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary derives its name from Gluta travancorica, a species endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve known as ‘Chenkurinji’ in local parlance.
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuaryis a protected area located in the state of Assam in India. It is located along the foothills of the Great Himalayan Range.
Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuaryis a wildlife sanctuary situated on the foothills of Himalayas bordering Bhutan in the north and in Udalguri district & Baksa District of Assam. This sanctuary is named after the river Bornadi which flows on its western border. The sanctuary was established in 1980 to protect the hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) and pigmy hog (Porcula salvania).
Less than a month after the Centre renamed Khel Ratna after hockey legend Dhyan Chand, the Assam Cabinet has decided to drop former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name from the Orang National Park. Situated about 120 km north-east of Guwahati, the 79.28 sq. km Orang is one of Assam’s seven national parks and among the top three rhino habitats. It also has one of the highest density of tigers in the country. Orang was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and was upgraded to a national park in 1999. The national park was declared a Tiger Reserve by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in March 2016.
Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary is a 362 km² area in the northern part of the Sundarbans delta in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India. It is located at the confluence of the Matla and Gumdi rivers.
The total area of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve with its four ranges (Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Basirhat Range, the National Park-East and the National Park-West) is 2,584.92 sq. km.. The three tiger bearing ranges of 24 Parganas (South) division, that is, Matla, Raidighi and Ramganga, comprises 1111.07 sq. km. of area in total.
The authorities in Assam’s Golaghat and Nagaon districts have begun probing cases of clearance of forest land, digging and construction activities on at least three animal corridors within the eco-sensitive zone of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. These two districts share large swathes of the 1,300-sq. km. tiger reserve that has nine identified animal corridors. Seven of these — Amguri, Bagori, Chirang, Deosur, Harmati, Hatidandi and Kanchanjuri — are in Nagaon district while Haldibari and Panbari corridors are in Golaghat district.
Galaxy frog (Melanobatrachus indicus), an amphibian species endemic to the eastern part of the Western Ghats, has been identified as the flagship species for conservation in the Mathikettan Shola National Park, home to rare flora and fauna. Galaxy frogs (in the genus of narrow-mouthed frogs in the family of microhylidae) are listed as endangered in the IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature) Red List.
The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a part of the estuary of River Godavari, supports the growth of mangrove vegetation and nurtures over 200 species of birds. Situated near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long-billed vulture.
Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Once a home to the Great Indian Bustard whose sightings are rare now, the Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary is a rich land of avian delights like Indian rollers, mynas and eagles. Named after the Rollapadu village, the sanctuary was set up to protect the grasslands of the region and conserve the Great Indian Bustard; it is now known for birds such as Barn owls, Brown Fish Owls, and Short-toed snake Eagles. The sanctuary is also a great place to spot Black Bucks.
To celebrate International Tiger Day 2021, the Uttarakhand government highlighted the expanse of the state’s tiger map from Corbett National Park to Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Between the terai and the mountains.
Sikkim’s Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary.
The linear and montane forest landscape along the northern Western Ghats connects the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in the state to the Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Karnataka. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is spread over a 1,166 square kilometre area, and is western Maharashtra’s only tiger reserve, comprising Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sahyadri-Konkan corridor is crucial as it is the only way tigers can naturally colonise the STR and Radhanagari Wildlife sanctuary.
The Simlipal National Park in Odisha saw a major firebetween February-end and early March. Similipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. Derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the area.
Tungareshwar wildlife sanctuary also known as Tungareshwar National Park is located on a plateau east of Vasai and Virar in Palghar district, north of Mumbai in the Indian state Maharashtra. Forms a corridor between Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tansa wildlife sanctuary. The wildlife sanctuary has three different types of forests – Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous and Semi Evergreen. It has rich biodiversity, with diverse populations of flora and fauna. It is currently facing challenges from irresponsible tourism, deforestation, illegal construction, encroachments for agricultural activities and hunting.
After the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, red-flagged the construction of earthen dams inside the Kalesar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (KNP&S).
The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary came into existence in March 1998 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, with the aim of guarding Chandigarh’s iconic Sukhna Lake and its catchment area, that is home to dense forest and wide variety of flora and fauna. The sanctuary spread over 2600 hectares on the foothills of eco fragile Shivalik hills, has a large number of water bodies and natural rainwater slopes that help to fill Sukhna Lake every year. The WLS is under the administrative control of union territory of Chandigarh and shares its boundaries with Haryana and Punjab. The sanctuary is located in Shivalik foothills which are considered ecologically sensitive and geologically unstable.
Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary is believed to be a corridor for tigers from Kanha Tiger Reserve and Achanakmar Tiger reserve by experts. It is situated in the state of Chhattisgarh.
The Central government informed that there were no Great Indian Bustards (GIB) in Kutch Bustard Sanctuary (KBS) in Gujarat’s Kutch district. GIBs are the largest among the four bustard species found in India, the other three being MacQueen’s bustard, lesser florican and the Bengal florican. GIBs are considered the flagship bird species of grassland and hence barometers of the health of grassland ecosystems. KBS near Naliya in Kutch district’s Abdasa block is a tiny sanctuary notified in 1992. Besides the KBS, Prajau, Bhanada and Kunathia-Bhachunda are important grasslands which have been declared unclassified forests recently.
Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Nagpur district of Maharashtra.
Forest areas of Kallar and those adjoining the Silent Valley National Park will be declared as wildlife sanctuaries after public consultation in Kerala. Kallar adjoins the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary on its north, Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve on its east, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary on its south. Similarly, forest areas surrounding the Silent Valley National Park provides connectivity with Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu on its north, Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary on its north-west and Silent Valley National Park on its south.
Indicator of pollution levels in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand forest department has claimed to have developed country’s first lichen park in Kumaon’s Munsiyari area. Some lichen species found in the state include Parmotrema pertatum, Usnea lognissima, Lecanora subfuseescens, Sarcogyne privigna, Arthonia impolitella, Acarospora fusca, Acarospora oxytona, Polysporina dubia and so on.
Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest leopard density (around 21 per 100 square kilometres) in the entire Western Ghats landscape, according to a report released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change titled ‘Status of Leopards, Co-predators and Megaherbivores in India – 2018’. The report is based on an estimate of the year 2018. It has also been found that the landscapes connecting Parambikulam Tiger Reserve with Periyar Tiger Reserve and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve showed loss in leopard occupancy in 2018 compared to 2014.
Open grasslands are most often associated with African savannahs. But a new research shows that such open natural habitats are widespread in India — and poorly protected.
A major portion of that protected area lies in just five parks. These are Rajasthan’s Desert National Park and Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat, the NagarjunsagarSrisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar’s Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Odisha’s Kendrapara became the only district in India to be home to all three species of crocodilians found in the country. Bhitarkanika National Park in the district is also the home of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus).
Hundreds of animals, including the endangered tigers in Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), are threatened by floodwaters descending from Nepal that entered the low-lying areas of the reserve. The Gandak and its tributaries, however, have flooded a large area of VTR’s Valmiki Nagar and Madanpur forest range. VTR is Bihar’s only tiger reserve and is spread over 899 square kilometres near the Indo-Nepal border in the West Champaran district.
Doom Dooma Reserve Forest and Kakojan Reserve Forest and a less disturbed, better protected contiguous forest patch, Dehing Patkai National Park all three are located in Upper Assam.
Four new Ramsar sites recognized in India i.e. two each from Haryana and Gujarat – have been recognised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the number of such sites in the country to 46. Haryana’s Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary is a human-made freshwater wetland. The Sultanpur National Park in Haryana supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles. The Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat lies on the CentralAsian Flyway. The Wadhvana Wetland in Gujarat is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds.
Valmiki National Park is a Tiger Reserve in West Champaran District of Bihar, India. It is the only National Park in Bihar. The landscape encompasses foothills ranges of Himalayan Shivaliks with cliffs, ridges, gorges, hills, streams, and valleys.
The Tamil Nadu State government announced last week that a 500-sqkm dugong conservation reserve will soon be set up in the Palk Bay which will became the first for India. The proposed conservation area has the highest concentration of dugongs in the country. The reserve will span the northern part of the Palk Bay fromAdirampattinam to Amapattinam.
The Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Shimla District Rampur Bushahr, Himachal Pradesh, India. It has undisturbed forest areas. Monal, Tragopan, Koklas and Kalij are the pheasants found here. Some of the common animals found here are Musk deer, Goral and Thar.
Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre (JCBC) situated at the Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary in Shivalik ranges of the Himalayan foothills in Haryana’s Pinjore.
Recently, The Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently proposed changing the name of Jim Corbett National Park to Ramganga National Park. Jim Corbett National Park is a national park in India located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state.
Recently, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved India’s newest Tiger Reserve situated in Chhattisgarh as a combined areas of the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary. This will be the 53rd Tiger Reserves of India and 4th Tiger Reserves in Chhattisgarh. The Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary was identified as part of the
Sarguja Jashpur Elephant Reserve in 2011. The Guru Ghasidas National Park used to be part of the Sanjay
National Park in undivided Madhya Pradesh.
The Namdapha Tiger Reserve located in Arunachal Pradesh, is one of India’s most biodiverse protected areas. It is home to five of India’s nine species of hornbills.
Bhoramdeo Tiger Reserve connects the Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh with the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and, experts say, the decision to create a Tiger Reserve at Guru Ghasidas National Park should not affect attempts to notify Bhoramdeo as a Tiger Reserve too.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII-Dehradun) Conservation Biologists will begin collaring ten Fishing Cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Andhra Pradesh. The country’s first Fishing Cat collaring project is led by Conservation Biologist Dr. Bilal Habib, WII-Dehradun.
The Kaziranga National Park and the Pakkhui Wildlife Sanctuary are located near the Kameng river.
Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is contiguous with the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS) to the south and the two areas are known collectively as the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries (LBWS). It is a protected area located in the state of Assam in India. Situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur district.
Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve: Recently, designated by UNESCO as world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve’. Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. Total area of the reserve a million hectares in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’, makes it the largest riverine protected area on the continent. An important contribution to the European Green Deal. Home to floodplain forests, gravel and sand banks, river islands, oxbows and meadows. Home to continental Europe’s highest density of breeding white-tailed eagle, endangered species such as the little tern, black stork, otters, beavers and sturgeons.
The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary near Bikaner, Rajasthan is the winter home of imperial sand grouse and many other amazing migratory birds.
Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary: A wildlife sanctuary headquartered in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. Only habitat in the world which provides home for the Jerdon’s courser, a highly endangered bird species.
Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary: Situated in Kurnool district is the place in Andhra Pradesh to see the Great Indian Bustard. Great Indian Bustard are often found associated in the same habitat as the Blackbuck, the state animal of Andhra Pradesh.
Betla National Park: Located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Latehar and Palamu district of Jharkhand. One of the 1st national parks in India to become a part tiger reserve under Project Tiger, in 1974. The North Koel River and its tributaries flow through the northern portion of the park.
Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS): A conservation reserve and a protected area in the Kohima, Nagaland. Lies at the extension of Barali range, the mountain range complex of NE India. An Important Bird Area. The sanctuary includes portions of three ecoregions: Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forest, Northeast India-Myanmar pine forest, Chin Hills-Arakan Yoma montane forests. In News: Recently, the sanctuary won India Biodiversity Awards, 2021 under the category ‘Sustainable Use of Biological Resources’.
Both Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary and Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary of Chhattisgarh are in news due to translocation of wild buffalos from Manas National Park, Assam. The wild buffalo is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 & Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura, the country’s only natural breeding centre of bisons. Located in Belonia subdivision of South Tripura district. Located near the India-Bangladesh border.
Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary: Spread over Pauni Tahsil of Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi and Bhivapur Taluka of Nagpur district of Maharashtra. Connection with Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve through the forest along Wainganga river. Home to resident breeding tigers, herds of Gaur, wild dogs and rare animals like flying squirrels, pangolins and honey badgers.
The Garhimatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapara district of Odisha is the world’s largest rookey of sea turtles.
Eaglenest or Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary: A protected area of India in the Himalayan foothills of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. Conjoins Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve across the Kameng river to the east. Part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve.Bounded to the north by Eaglenest Ridge and the reserved forests of the Bugun community. BirdLife International has designated Eaglenest and Sessa sanctuaries as an Important Bird Area (IBA IN344), with Blyth’s tragopan identified as a vulnerable species of the area.
Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary: Karnataka will soon get its first Indian Grey Wolf sanctuary in Koppal district of Kalyana-Karnataka region. Melkote region in Karnataka is said to be the first protected area for wolves in the country. The Melkote Wolf Sanctuary was reportedly set up by the maharajas of Mysuru.
Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary: Thane district of Maharashtra. Houses many endangered species of flora and fauna. The Tansa lake, an ARTIFICIAL Lake acts as source of water inside. It is one of the biggest lakes of Maharashtra.
Katepurna Wildlife Sanctuary: Akola district in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra. The land vegetation at is southern tropical dry deciduous forest. Species of plants at this sanctuary such as Bahada, Dhawada, Moha, Tendu, Khair, Salai, Aola, Teude, etc. Renowned for the four-horned antelope and barking deer. Other animals are black buck, leopard, wolf, wild boar, hyena, hare, nilgai, jungle cat and monkey. Among the birds, Peafowl is the commonly bird spotted
Karanja Sohol Wildlife Sanctuary: Protected area in the Karanja talukas of Washim district in Maharashtra, India. Created to preserve the “Black Buck” population. It covers 1,832 ha of forest and grasslands. Attracts a large variety of migratory waterfowl from November to March every year.
Recently Maharashtra state governments had announced Kanhargaon in Chandrapur district as a wildlife sanctuary along with 10 conservation reserves (CRs). This will be the 50th sanctuary in Maharashtra. Forms a key southern corridor for the spillover tiger population moving to the Kawal tiger reserve in Telangana and Indravati reserve in Chhattisgarh through Chaprala and Pranhita sanctuaries in Gadchiroli.
Recently, The Haiderpur Wetland declared as the 47th Ramsar Sites of India abutting the Madhya Ganga barrage, about 10 km from Bijnor in western Uttar Pradesh. A human-made wetland formed in 1984 after the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage on the floodplains of Ganga. The wetland is one of the largest human-made wetland that was formed in 1984 after the construction of Madhya Ganga Barrage. The region is fed by the Ganges and its tributary Solani river. The wetland lies in the strategic Central Asian Flyway.
The Kazhuveli wetland located near Villupuram in Tamil Nadu has been declared a bird sanctuary by the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, and will henceforth be called the ‘Kazhuveli Birds Sanctuary’. The ecologically important Kazhuveli wetlands in Villupuram district is the 16th bird sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. Kazhuveli is a wetland of international importance on the East Coast and the declaration has come as a shot in the arm for the Forest Department’s initiatives to protect and develop its surrounding environment. The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli Creek and the Edayanthittu estuary and is visited for nesting by migratory birds on the Central Asian flyway. Kazhuveli is the second largest brackish water lake in South India located in Tindivanam taluk of Villupuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu.
Recently, the Union minister of state for environment, forests and climate change said the second tiger reserve in Bihar would be set up in Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary. After Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar will soon get the second Tiger Reserve in Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Singalila National Park, the highest protected area in West Bengal, will soon get new denizens. The park is part of the Eastern Himalayas. The Singalila Ridge, which runs roughly North to South and separates Himalayan West Bengal from the other Eastern Himalayan ranges to the west of it. Lying within the park is Sandakphu top, one of the highest peaks in West Bengal, offering one of the best places for viewing stunning sunrises and sunsets, along with views of Kangchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. The two highest peaks of West Bengal, Sandakphu (3630 m) and Phalut (3600 m), are located on the ridge and inside the park. Rammam river and Srikhola River flow through the park. The Singalila Ridge is a north–south mountain ridge running from northwestern West Bengal through Sikkim in the Indian part of the Himalayas. The district of Ilam in Nepal falls on the western part of this ridge.
The Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve is a Humid Tropical Rain Forest located in the Amazon region of Ecuador. Yasuni National Park is home to 40% of Ecuador’s crude oil reserves – in the Ishpingo-Tiputini-Tambococha (ITT) oil fields.
The Karakoram sanctuary is spread over 5,000 sq km in Leh district and houses the famous Tibetan antelope.
A Dark Sky Reserve is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that has been developed responsibly to prevent light pollution. Individuals or groups can nominate a site for certification to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA). There are five designated categories, namely International Dark Sky parks, communities, reserves, sanctuaries and Urban Night Sky Places. The certification process is similar to that of a site being awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag or getting recognised as a Biosphere Reserve. Between 2001 and January 2022, there have been 195 sites recognised as International Dark Sky Places globally. The Ladakh Union Territory administration is leading the efforts in establishing the country’s first Dark Sky Reserve. To be situated at a height of 4,500 metres above sea level, the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) will come up within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary: A high-altitude wildlife sanctuary located in the Ladakhi adjunct of the Tibetan Changthang plateau in the Leh District of the union territory of Ladakh. It is important as one of the few places in India with a population of the Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, as well as the rare Black-necked Crane. The Tibetan wolf, wild yak, bharal, brown bear, mormot, Tibetan wild ass and dark-necked crane are also found in the sanctuary. It is located in the Ladakhi Changthang Plateau in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir. It boasts of the highest lake on earth, Tso Moriri. Not just that it is also believed to include the world’s highest village, Korzok Village that draws tourists for the Korzok Monastery. From sighting the rare snow leopard, one can also spot a kiang or a wild ass, along with the dark-necked crane.
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) cabinet recently approved the notification of the state’s fourth tiger reserve in the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) in Chitrakoot district. Uttar Pradesh’s Ranipur Tiger Reserve has become the 53rd tiger reserve of India. RWS is an important corridor for the movement of tigers, according to the Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in Indiareport by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The UP cabinet approved the notification of Ranipur Tiger Reserve under Section 38(v) of the Wild life (Protection) Act of 1972. The tiger reserve will span across 529.89 square kilometres (sq km), with a 299.58 sq km buffer zone and 230 sq km core area, which was already notified as the RWS in 1977. The Ranipur Tiger Reserve has tropical dry deciduous forests and is home to fauna such as tigers, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkara and a number of birds and reptiles, the statement added. The Ranipur Tiger Reserve will be the fourth in UP, after Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Amangarh (buffer of Corbett Tiger Reserve). It will also be the first in the state’s portion of the Bundelkhand region, which it shares with neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
Newly added 10 Ramsar Sites: The sites are Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Vembannur Wetland Complex, Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, all in Tamil Nadu, Satkosia Gorge in Odisha, Nanda Lake in Goa, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka, and Sirpur Wetland in Madhya Pradesh.
The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is also known as the ‘Pakshi Kashi’ of Karnataka. It is a bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state with 40 acres in area, and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River. The sanctuary has been designated as a protected Ramsar site since 2022. This is also the first and the only Ramsar site in Karnataka. The bird sanctuary supports more than 1% of the world’s population of spot-billed pelicans — as against a global population of nearly 17,000, Ranganathittu supports about 1,000 of these birds.
Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary: A man-made wetland in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. It is the largest reserve for breeding resident and migratory water birds in South India and an ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Area’ forming part of the Central Asian Flyway, a brief by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) states. The wetland also irrigates about 190 acres of paddy.
Vellode Bird Sanctuary: Located in the Vadamugam Vellode village in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district. Locally known as Periyakulam Yeri, it is one of the 141 prioritised wetlands in the state. It is an important staging and breeding ground for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway and also resident species such as the Indian river tern (Sterna aurantia), oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala). The Site is also an ideal habitat for notable plant species including Cayratia pedata, Tephrosia purpurea and Commelina tricolor.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary: One of the oldest bird-protected areas in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. This freshwater wetland is a people-protected waterbird area, the history of which goes back centuries. Locals have been protecting this heronry and in return benefitting from the manure-rich water from the lake. Presence of several species including the black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala). Vedanthangal is well known for nature tourism, which generates considerable revenue for the local communities.
Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary: Located in the Tiruthuraipoondi taluk of Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. It is an important staging and breeding ground for several species of waterbirds. 80 kilometres from Thanjavur, about 58km from Vaduvur Birds sanctuary and 10 km from Point Calimere Birds Sanctuary. The Sanctuary consists of human-made irrigation tanks, interconnected by an ancient network of canals and fed by the Mettur dam through the Koraiyar canal. The Site is an important staging and breeding ground for several species of waterbirds. Notable species observed include the oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Eurasian wigeon (Anas Penelope), Northern pintail (Anas acuta) and garganey (Anas querquedula).
Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and the Himachal Pradesh forest department have calculated the density and population of Asiatic black bears in two Protected Areas (PAs) i.e. Darangati Wildlife Sanctuary and Rupi Bhaba of Himachal Pradesh without identifying individual animals through hair samples or camera trap images.
The Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary was notified recently by the state government of Tamil Nadu. The state government had earlier notified Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary and Dugong Conservation Reserve. This will be the 17^thwildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary, covering reserve forest areas in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts. Grizzled giant squirrel, four-horned antelope, and Lesser Fish Eagle which are exclusively dependent on the Cauvery river and its riverine forest ecosystem, are also found here. These are also red-listed and in urgent need for focused conservation and protection of their habitat. The sanctuary was notified under Section 26-A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It will connect Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu with the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in neighbouring Karnataka thereby forming a large, contiguous network of protected areas for wildlife. The Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary maintains continuity to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu through the MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and the BRT Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.
Leopards have been sighted in Delhi’s Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time since 1940. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the border between Haryana and Delhi on the Aravalli hill range’s Southern Delhi Ridge. It spans across Southern Delhi and northern parts of Haryana’s Faridabad and Gurugram districts. It is part of the Northern Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor, which starts from Rajasthan’s Sariska National Park, passes via Nuh, Faridabad and Gurugram districts and ends at the Delhi Ridge. The wildlife sanctuary holds the one of the last fragments of Delhi Ridge hill range and its semi-arid forest habitat as well as the fauna depending on it.
Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Sivalik Hills of Chandigarh city, near Sukhna Lake. The main animals spotted at the sanctuary include sambar, chital, pangolin (anteater), wild boar, jackal, small Indian civet, jungle cat, porcupine, Hanuman langur, rhesus monkey, Indian hare, common mongoose and three-striped palm squirrel.
A Royal Bengal Tiger was sighted at the entry point of Debigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargarh after a gap of four years.
Gujarat’s Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, located near the coastal city of Porbandar and 100 kilometres from the Gir National Park, has been identified as a potential second home for Asiatic lions, according to the government.
The decision to notify the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, popularly known as the MM Hills, as a tiger reserve was once again postponed by the wildlife board headed by Chief Minister.
The Pilikula Biological Park is the only zoo in India to get permission from the Central Zoo Authority for captive breeding of King Cobras.
The Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, New Amarambalam Reserved Forest, Nedumkayam Rainforest in Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram district, Attappadi Reserved Forest in Mannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, and Mukurthi National Park of Nilgiris district are located around Silent Valley National Park.
Nature enthusiasts have voiced concern as the number of migratory birds flocking to the Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal’s Birbhum district has declined sharply.
A proposal to rename the Ponmudi Wildlife Sanctuary as Shankili Wildlife Sanctuary.
Recently, White tufted royal butterfly, a rare species, found in Kerala’s Kannur. The species had been spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.
Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located near the town of Topchanchi, Jharkhand. The sanctuary is situated alongside National Highway 2. Land in the sanctuary mainly consists of dry mixed deciduous forests with dry peninsular sal forests.
The Union Environment Ministry withdrew permission for tourism and eco-tourism activities in the vicinity of the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary, The eco-sensitive zone, according to provisions of the Environment Protection Act, is a buffer zone surrounding a ‘Protected Area.’ While protected zones permit almost no activities, eco-sensitive zones, under Clause 3 of the Act, are allowed to promote tourism provided a master plan specifying the permissible activities is given to the Centre by the concerned State government.
The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is initiating a series of measures to develop Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. Bordered by Simhachalam hill range on the West and Gambheeram reservoir on the North-east, the sanctuary is a tropical deciduous forest with a canopy of tree cover of mixed composition along with scrubland and meadows. The sanctuary holds a good number of faunal diversity including aves, reptiles and mammals. People from the village of Sambhuvanipalem located within the forest area are employed by the forest department to manage the eco-tourism park. The sanctuary has a dry evergreen forest mixed with scrub and meadows. The terrain is hilly with steep slopes.
Ganjam, a southern Odisha district, is the only habitat of this mammal at present. Blackbucks were sighted in the Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary in the Puri district through 2012-13; however, they have now vanished from the area.
Malabar tree toad found in Mollem National Park which is threatened by three infrastructure project finds mentioned in the updated ‘Checklist of Indian Amphibians (2023)’ released by the Zoological Survey of India. It is located in Sanguem taluk in Goa close to the border with Karnataka. This park also has several temples dating back to the Kadamba Dynasty. The park was earlier known as Mollem game sanctuary. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and renamed Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary. Since then, the national park is called Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. King Cobra, Hump-nosed pit viper, Indian rock python and Malabar pit viper are found in the park.
Yellowstone National Park, which celebrated its 151st anniversary earlier this week, is widely considered to be the first national park in the world. Located in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho, it was established by the 42nd United States Congress with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. It spans an area of over 9,000 sq. km comprising lakes, canyons, rivers, iconic geothermal features such as the Old Faithful geyser, and mountain ranges. The Old Faithful Geyser is one of Yellowstone National Park’s biggest attractions and is one of many of the park’s geothermal features.
Four forest ranges in Erode Forest Division, spread across 80,567 hectares, will form the new ‘Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary’, the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the Tamil Nadu State. The sanctuary is located on the western side of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), northern side of Kollegal forest division and eastern side of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and adjacent to Cauvery North and South Wildlife Sanctuaries in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri. The forest areas have good prey base and the new sanctuary would form a tiger corridor connecting Bandipur Tiger Reserve, STR, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. In Karnataka, Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is close to Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. It connects the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve to the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary. The Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary’s designation will be a significant boon to Asian elephant conservation.
The Butterfly EcoPark at Chottakhola, close to the Trishna WildLife sanctuary (Tripura) is the first butterfly park of northeast.
Sakkarbaug Zoological Park– In a first, the Gujarat Forest Department is set to shift 10 Indian grey wolves from a conservation breeding centre at Junagadh’s Sakkarbaug Zoological Park (SZP) to forested areas in north Gujarat and north Saurashtra. The zoo provides purebred Asiatic lions for the Indian and the international endangered species captive breeding program for the critically endangered species.
Campbell Bay National Park is a national park in India, located on the island of Great Nicobar, the largest of the Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean some 190 km to the north of Sumatra. It was gazetted as a national park of India in 1992, and forms part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
In an attempt to boost conservation and bring the critically endangered Asian Giant Tortoise back from the brink, 10 captive-bred juvenile tortoises were soft-released into Intanki National Park, inside a protected area in Nagaland. Ntangki National Parkis a national park located in Peren District of Nagaland, India. It was first designated as a national park in 1993. Among the species that inhabit the park are the rare hoolock gibbon, golden langur, hornbill, Asian palm civet, black stork, tiger, white-breasted kingfisher, monitor lizard, python and sloth bear. The name “Ntangki” is derived from the Zeme dialect of the Zeliangrong Nagas.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Parkis a national park of India near Wandoor on the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Researchers of Zoological Survey of India have discovered two new species of jumping spiders from southern India. The two discoveries include Phintella dhritiaefrom Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and Phintella platnicki from Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
Kurinjimala Sanctuaryprotects the approximately 32 hectare core habitat of the endangered Neelakurinji plant in the Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Devikulam Taluk, in the Idukki district of Kerala, a state in southern India.
Recently forest officials of Katarniaghat division says it has plan for the financial inclusion of the Tharu people that live near the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS). The Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuaryis a protected area in the Upper Gangetic plain, near Bahraich city in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, India. In 1987, it was brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger’, and together with the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dudhwa National Park it forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Katerniaghat Forest provides strategic connectivity between tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and the Bardia National Park (Nepal). The Gairwa river flows in the sanctuary area is declared as a sanctuary for Mugger and Gharials.
TheElephant Whisperers,” which was filmed inside Mudumalai National Park, won the Best Documentary Short Film award at the 95th Academy Awards 2023 (Oscars) recently. Mudumalai National Park is a national park in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu in southern India in the Nilgiri District and shares boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala. The national park has been part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve since 1986 and was declared a tiger reserve It is drained by the Moyar River and several tributaries.
A line up of beautiful orchids with delicate blooms from the forests of the Eastern Ghats will soon find a home in an orchidarium. This centre, a first of its kind project in Andhra Pradesh by the forest department, is coming up near the ACA VDCA Cricket Stadium area bordering the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Recently, a greater Racket-Tailed Drongo bird was found in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, which is known for its loud musical whistling sound. It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing thru the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor. It has a variety of landforms and is a mixture of different habitats such as wetlands, marshes, dry sand beds and gently sloping ravines. It is a part of the “Asia Flyway” project, and many migratory Birds, both local and foreign, flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region.
A male tiger was recently found dead inside the Ratapani Sanctuary. It stretches across the Raisen and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh. This rocky forest with an aquatic environment is spread on Vindhya hills. It runs parallel to the northern side of the Narmada River. Kolar River forms the western boundary of the Sanctuary. The sanctuary was first notified in 1976 and then extended in 1983. In the year 2008, it was declared as a Tiger Reserve. The Sanctuary has Bhimbetika, “a group of rock shelters and rock paintings,” which is one of the ” World Heritage Sites” declared by UNESCO. It is rugged with hills, valleys, plateaus, and plains. The forest of this Sanctuary is of dry deciduous and moist deciduous types.
Nauradehi and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries: ‘Tiger State’ Madhya Pradesh is poised to get its seventh tiger reserve with the state government going forward with the notification of Nauradehi and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries as a combined protected area. It covers nearly 1197 km² area across three districts, i.e., Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur, of Madhya Pradesh. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The entire Sanctuary is situated on a plateau, forming part of the upper Vindhyan range and has a connecting forest patch with Veerangana Durgawati Sanctuary in Damoh district towards the east, which extends up to Bandhavgarh National Park. The Sanctuary is classified under Deccan peninsula biogeographic region. Three fourth of sanctuary falls in the Yamuna, and one-fourth of the sanctuary falls in the Naramada basin. Wildlife Corridor: It acts as a corridor for Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve while indirectly connecting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary. The chief floral elements include Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Bhirra, Ber, Amla etc. The chief faunal element includes Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking deer, Commom Langur Rhesus Macaque, Fresh water Turtles, Spotted Grey Creeper, Cranes, Egrets, Lapwings etc.
Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. Named after Rani Durgavati, a queen of the Gond people. The sanctuary was notified by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1996. The Singorgarh Fort is located within the sanctuary. The vegetation is predominantly tropical mixed dry deciduous forest. Pterocarpus marsupium, Terminalia alata, Anogeissus latifolia, Madhuca indica, Butea monosperma, and Lagerstroemia parviflora are the most common trees in the sanctuary. It hosts 18 species of mammals, including the leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, and sloth bear. Besides these, the sanctuary is also home to 177 species of birds, 16 species of fish and reptiles, and 10 species of amphibians.
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary of Odisha records higher prey density. It is located between the Hirakud Dam (Mahanadi River) and the Reservoir in the state of Odisha. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985. It finds a special mention because of noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. During his rebellion against the British Veer Surendra Saimade his base at ‘Barapathara” located within the sanctuary. The beautiful sanctuary is known for its easy sightings of animals particularly Indian Bison, Wild Boars and Sambhar etc. It has a dry deciduous forest that attracts a host of birds during the winters.
Located in the heartland of the environment-loving community of Bishnois, the Shri Guru Jambeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary near Abohar is unique as it is owned entirely by private individuals or panchayats. A cluster of 13 villages in Sito Gunno tehsil was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1989 on the community’s demand to protect wild animals in their private lands. Since the land ownership inside the sanctuary is mostly private, sand dunes are being flattened to make way for agricultural fields and kinnow orchards and it has resulted in the loss of grassland habitats which are crucial for blackbucks. It requires a mosaic of different habitats to meet their needs for shelter, feeding, and breeding.
As many as 18 of the 24 districts in Jharkhand are Naxalite-affected and some of the best attractions like the Palamau Tiger Project at Betla,Hazaribagh National Park Magnolia Point at Netarhat famous for sun set view,Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district are in those districts. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for sloth bears and leopards,Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district has Asia’s best sal trees.
Recently, several people injured over clash between forest team and illegal encroachers at Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra in the Sonitpur district, Assam. It is a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system. It comprises of a mosaic of wet alluvial grassland, riparian and semi-evergreen forests dotted by wetland and river systems. The grassland is also rich in various kinds of medicinal herbs and plants. It is home to the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, hog deer, wild pig, and elephants. It includes the highly endangered Bengal Florican. It also makes it an ideal breeding place for several species of migratory birds during the winter season.
A leopard was recently found dead in the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. It is situated in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh. On the northern side, the Sanctuary shares the international boundary with Nepal, and on the eastern border is Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve. It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in June 1987. It is drained by the great Gandak, the little Gandak, Pyas and Rohin rivers. It is almost flat with an average height of 100mtrs above mean sea level. The area gently slopes from North–West to South–East.
Recently, a rare black eagle was spotted for the first time in the lush Chail wildlife sanctuary located in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district. It is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh.It comprises part of the catchment area of a tributary of the Giri River.
Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed a notice to be issued, related to the complaint of mining activities taking place in the eco-sensitive zone of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Balasore district, Odisha. It is a major wildlife sanctuary in Odisha which was established in 1984. It is spread across the Chota Nagpur Plateau region. It is connected with Simlipal Reserve via Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges. It contains mixed deciduous forest. It consists of lot of wild animals like the tigers, elephants, leopards, bison, gaur, giant squirrels and sambar etc.
Recently, the Gujarat State Board for Wildlife (GSBWL) deferred a decision on a proposal of the Gujarat State Minerals Development Corporation (GSDMA) seeking more land for “removing manganese dump” from the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchmahal district. It is located in Gujarat’s south-central part. It contains Grasslands, water-borne plants, medicinal herbs, dry southern tropical rain forests, dry deciduous mixed and secondary forests, and dry scrubs of the deciduous type. Teak, mahua, and bamboo thickets cover the length and breadth of the forest. Wild boars, nilgais (blue bull), jackals, hyenas, barking deer, sloth bears, chausinghas (four-horned antelope) and leopards.
Kazhuveli or Kaliveli wetland system is one of the largest waterfowl congregation sites in Tamil Nadu, and a well-known raptor roosting site for species like the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Red-necked Falcon and several harriers. Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary will be the 16th Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and will help to preserve the biological diversity of the region and conserve the future of threatened bird species in their natural environments.
The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuarywas renamed on 25 May 2004, formerly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest. It is an isolated protected area of evergreen forest located in the Jorhat district of Assam. The upper canopy of the forest is dominated by the Hollong tree, while the Nahar dominates the middle canopy. The lower canopy consists of evergreen shrubs and herbs. The sanctuary has a rich biodiversity and is home to the only apes in India, the western Hoolock, as well as the only nocturnal primate found in the northeast Indian states, the Bengal slow loris.
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is located on the foothills of the Himalayas and in between the Teesta and the Mahananda rivers. It was started as a game sanctuary for children in 1955. In 1959, it got the status of a sanctuary mainly to protect the Indian Bison and Royal Bengal Tiger. The Sanctuary reaches up to a high elevation at Latpanchar in Kurseong Hill. The terrain is undulating, with moderate to steep slopes and high ridges towards the north. It varies mainly from riverine forests to dense mixed-wet forests due to the difference in altitude.
Two rescued wild animals, a Fishing Cat and a Python, were released in the Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh‘s East Siang district. The D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Arunachal Pradesh. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, and rhinos. The sanctuary is an important habitat for these animals and plays a vital role in their conservation.
Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary is like an oasis in arid Kalyana Karnataka. It is located around the Chandrampalli Dam in the Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. It was declared a sanctuary in 2011. It is the first dry land Wildlife Sanctuary in South India. This is the only area in the Hyderabad Karnataka Region with rich floristic diversity. Chincholi is also home to Lambani Tandas, a protected tribal community that lives in the forests in harmony with nature. The Sanctuary has good dry deciduous and Moist deciduous forest in the core with Acacia and Teak plantations on the fringes. Apart from medicinal herbs and trees, species like Red Sanders and Sandalwood are found abundantly.
Guindy National Park (GNP) protected area within Tamil Nadu and is one of the few national parks located within a city. One of the few remaining remnants of Southern Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests forms a pattern of mosaic with grasslands and scrubs in the National Park. The landscape of which GNP is a part is typical of tropical dissymmetric climate with 3 different seasons Pre- Monsoon, Post-Monsoon and Dry Season Blackbucks and Spotted Deer are well-adapted to open grasslands of diverse sizes.
To conserve and to know about the presence of such species at Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary, a survey was done in which two rare species of butterflies were found. The Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1989 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. It has an ancient palace built by Holkar which was primarily used as a hunting hut also known as shikargah (hunting lodge).
The much-awaited second tiger reserve of Bihar is all set to come up either by the end of 2023 or early 2024 towards obtaining the National Tiger Reserve Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) approval for declaring Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as the state’s second tiger reserve after the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR). The forests of Kaimur span 1,134 sq km area, including the 986 sq km of the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kaimur district has the highest green cover in Bihar: 34 per cent. Besides, the Kaimur forests are the biggest in the state in terms of area. The Kaimur forests are connected to forests in the neighbouring states of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuaryis a protected area in Tamil Nadu. Along the Palk Strait where it meets the Bay of Bengal at Point Calimere at the southeastern tip of Nagapattinam District. It was created in 1967 for the conservation of the blackbuck and also hosts large congregations of waterbirds, especially greater flamingos. It has been classified as an Important Bird Area. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary forms the easternmost and most biologically diverse part of Ramsar Site. It is all part of the Great Vedaranyam Swamp, except the reserved forest. The sanctuary is an island surrounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Palk Straight to the south and swampy backwaters and salt pans to the west and north. Low sand dunes are located along the coast and along the western periphery with coastal plains, tidal mud-flats and shallow seasonal ponds in between. Sand dunes in the east are mostly now stabilised by Prosopis juliflora and the higher dunes in the west are stabilised by dense dry evergreen forests.
Suspected Maoists reportedly opened fire at Forest department watchers at the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary of Kerala, southwest India. It is located on the western slope of the Western Ghats. Situated in the southeast part of Kannur District. Mud-puddlingseveral butterflies (Hebomoia glaucippe, Graphium teredon, Prioneris sita, Cepora nadina, Appias albina and Eurema hecabe) from the dry stream bed at Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. In the Peninsular India the vegetation type and growing period are determined by the extent of dry period rather than by the amount of rainfall. The highest peak in this sanctuary is Katti Betta. It is the only protected area of the West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forest of Dipterocarpus-Mesua- Palaquium type. The river Cheenkani flows through this wildlife sanctuary.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recommended to the authorities that the Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary abutting the Bandipur Tiger Reserve be declared as a core critical tiger habitat. The ecological significance of Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary which is inviolate and ideal habitat for tigers and elephants, the State government of Karnataka may consider proposing and notifying the entire sanctuary area as Core/Critical Tiger Habitat of Bandipur Tiger Reserve as per the prevailing norms in the interest of long-term conservation of wildlife, its habitats and ecological corridors. The backwaters of Nugu dam forms the part of the Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary and lies on the western side of the sanctuary. The Nugu forest area borders Alaganchi State Forest which comes under Bandipur National Park and is situated just north of Bandipur, the flora of the two areas is similar, except that the Nugu area was still recovering from earlier degradation. Much of the northwestern part of the sanctuary is occupied by the Nugu reservoir.
After Gir National Park and Sanctuary, the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (BWLS) is set to become the second home to Asiatic lions. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat, India. Previous to its 1979 establishment as a wildlife sanctuary, Barda was a private reserve for Porbandar and Jamnagar. There are several forest sub-types, such as southern tropical forest, southern dry mixed deciduous forest and northern tropical thorn forest, while other predominant flora include Euphorbia scrub, dry deciduous scrub, and dry bamboo brakes. Important fauna are blue bull, chinkara, blackbuck, and wolf. While Barda was known to have had a population of Asiatic lions, they deserted the area towards the end of the nineteenth century.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has told the state government to resolve within six months the issues that have led to the delay in the notification of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) status for the Shettihalli wildlife sanctuary in Shivamogga. A wildlife sanctuary in the state of Karnataka, India. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 23 November 1974. The sanctuary is home to species of animals such as white-backed vultures, Indian nightjar, and white-bellied dingo. Some other animal species such as tigers, king cobras, slot bears, leopards, elephants, langurs, and pythons reside in dense forest areas. It is divided into three areas or zones, namely the core zone, the buffer zone and the tourism zone. The famous Jog Falls is also located near this sanctuary. Mandagadde Natural Bird Sanctuary, present on a small island in the river Tunga is also a part of this Sanctuary.
A Royal Bengal Tiger was spotted in Pangalokha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim at an altitude of 3,640 metre. The Pangalokha Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bengal and Bhutan and is spread over 128 square kilometres. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sikkim. The Pangalokha Wildlife Sanctuary is located in East Sikkim district and connected to the forests of Bhutan and Neora Valley National Park in West Bengal. The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of species, including red pandas, snow leopards, Himalayan musk deer, Himalayan goral, and Himalayan black bears.
Uttarakhand’s Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary Records First-Ever Tiger Sighting. It is located in the district of Almora in the Kumaon region of the state of Uttarakhand. It was once the summer capital of the Chand dynasty, which ruled Kumaon from the 11th to the 18th centuries AD. The sanctuary is named after Bindeshwar Mahadev Temple, an ancient Hindu rock temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the highest point of the sanctuary. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of snow-capped Himalayan peaks like Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchachuli, and Kedarnath. BirdLife International has also declared this reserve an ‘Important Bird Area (IBA).
The first-of-its-kind, Nature Interpretation Centre at the Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Centre along the periphery of the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary in Visakhapatnam was recently inaugurated. Located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Named after the local hillock “Kambalakonda” acting as a green lung for citizens of Vizianagaram, is this large and sprawling sanctuary. It hosts dry evergreen forests, a highly-threatened and unique forest type seen only in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in India.
UP Chief minister directed officials to conduct archaeological excavation in the Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dalma Wildlife Sanctuaryis establishing a canopy walk facility to promote eco-tourism and enhance visitor experiences. The sanctuary derives its name from “Dalma mai,” a local goddess venerated by the indigenous population. Situated on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand, the sanctuary encompasses the Dalma hills and is contiguous with the industrial city of Jamshedpur. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary features two primary types of forests: “Dry Peninsular Sal” and “Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.” These forest types contribute to the rich biodiversity found within the sanctuary’s boundaries.
Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary: After relocating deer from Cuttack, the state government is planning to introduce Sambar and Gaur (bison) in the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary. Spread over 194 sq km area, the Chandaka-Dampara sanctuary is home to several wildlife species including elephants, barking deer, and porcupines among others. It is located in Khurda district of Odisharepresents the north-eastern limits of Eastern Ghats. It is also a home to a number of threatened wild animals and birds. This landscape got sanctuary status in 1982. The climate of the area is tropical with three distinct and well-marked seasons i.e. summer, Rainy season and winter. Flora is moderately diverse with an intimate mixture of evergreen and deciduous elements. The area comes under semi-evergreen forest zone but the interplay of biotic factors has changed the original character of the vegetation.
Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary: Two rhinos have recently returned to the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary after almost a 40-year gap following a successful anti-encroachment operation. The Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries are two centrally located Protected Areas (PAs) of Assam. They are located on the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra. In fact, though these two wildlife sanctuaries have two different names, they are ecologically and geographically a singular entity. They are surrounded by many key PAs like Kaziranga National Park to the east, Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuaries to the west, Pakke-Nameri NPs to the north, and the rich reserve forests of Karbi Anglong to the south. They act as a connecting corridor for the migration of animals between Kaziranga and Orang National parks and hence, has been identified as buffer zones of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
The Karnataka State Cabinet is learnt to have approved a proposal to recommend to the Centre to declare six wildlife sanctuaries and areas around another sanctuary in Karnataka as ecologically sensitive zones. The six sanctuaries that have been proposed are Bukkapattana Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kamasandra Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarahole and Kali Tiger Reserves, Kappatagudda, Anashi National Park and areas around Cauvery Extended Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a draft notification declaring extent and boundaries of Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary eco-sensitive zone in Rajasthan. The Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1983, but since then declaration of eco-sensitive zone was not finalised. The sanctuary is home to some endangered wild animals, such as leopard, Indian wolf, blackbuck, chinkara, large Bengal monitor lizard, pythons, peafowl and vulture.
The Tamil Nadu government has declared 80,114.80 hectares of reserve forests in Bargur Hills in Erode district, as the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. This stretch of protected forests, links the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve with Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary, and has been notified as the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the State.
This region is part of the corridor that connects the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, and plays a crucial role in maintaining a viable tiger population. It is one of the tiger corridors identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, and is home to a number of tigers. The region is also part of the Nilgiris Elephant Reserve and is home to a healthy population of large herbivores including elephants and the Indian Gaur. Also, the landscape is the catchment of the Palar River that drains into the Cauvery River and is a crucial source of water for agricultural activities. It is also of cultural and historical significance to tribal and local communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and traditional practices. The Bargur Hills are a treasure trove of nature’s bounty that must be preserved and protected for future generations.
The Maharashtra government has declared a new wildlife habitat for the ‘canid’ wild dogs family in Sangli, as ‘Atpadi Conservation Reserve’, which is among the smallest. The new reserve in the lush green western Maharashtra will help preserve the habitat of wolves, jackals, foxes and hyenas in the area, besides other mammals like deer, civets, rabbits and more that abound in the region. The Atpadi Conservation Reserve helps connect the Maini Conservation Area in the west with the Madhok Bird Sanctuary to its north-eastern boundary, which will make it a safe corridor for the wildlife thriving there. This newly declared Conservation Reserve hosts three types of forest cover, Semievergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous. The Government of Maharashtra in exercise of the powers conferred by section 36-A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, has declared this new Atpadi Conservation Reserve.
The Karnataka State Cabinet is learnt to have approved a proposal to recommend to the Centre to declare six wildlife sanctuaries and areas around another sanctuary in Karnataka as ecologically sensitive zones. The six sanctuaries that have been proposed are Bukkapattana Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kamasandra Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarahole and Kali Tiger Reserves, Kappatagudda, Anashi National Park and areas around Cauvery Extended Wildlife Sanctuary.

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