Table of Contents
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India 2023: A place where animal habitats and their surroundings are shielded from any kind of interference is known as a wildlife sanctuary. Animal trapping, killing, and poaching are outright forbidden in some areas. They want to provide the animals a comfortable life. Beautiful animal sanctuaries can be found in India, where there are also high, stunning mountains, big rivers, and deep woods. Here, only a few from India are mentioned.
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India are classified as IUCN Category IV protected areas. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 allowed the State government to declare specific regions as wildlife sanctuaries if they were deemed to be of sufficient ecological, geomorphologic, and natural value. 564 wildlife sanctuaries had been established in the nation as of December 2021, making up 3.73% of its total land area. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, in the state of Tamil Nadu, is the oldest bird sanctuary. It was founded in 1796.
Wildlife Sanctuaries in India List
Here is the updated List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India 2023:
S. No. | State/UT | Total number of Wildlife Sanctuaries |
1 | Andhra Pradesh | 13 |
2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 11 |
3 | Assam | 18 |
4 | Bihar | 12 |
5 | Chhattisgarh | 11 |
6 | Goa | 6 |
7 | Gujarat | 23 |
8 | Haryana | 8 |
9 | Himachal Pradesh | 28 |
10 | Jammu &Kashmir | 15 |
11 | Jharkhand | 11 |
12 | Karnataka | 30 |
13 | Kerala | 17 |
14 | Madhya Pradesh | 25 |
15 | Maharashtra | 42 |
16 | Manipur | 2 |
17 | Meghalaya | 4 |
18 | Mizoram | 8 |
19 | Nagaland | 3 |
20 | Odisha | 19 |
21 | Punjab | 13 |
22 | Rajasthan | 25 |
23 | Sikkim | 7 |
24 | Tamil Nadu | 29 |
25 | Tripura | 4 |
26 | Uttar Pradesh | 25 |
27 | Uttarakhand | 7 |
28 | West Bengal | 15 |
29 | Telangana | 9 |
30 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 96 |
31 | Chandigarh | 2 |
32 | Dadar & Nagar Haweli | 1 |
33 | Lakshadweep | 1 |
34 | Daman & Diu | 1 |
35 | Delhi | 1 |
36 | Pondicherry | 1 |
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India Significance
The wildlife sanctuaries are built to conserve the endangered animals. Since it can be challenging to always relocate animals from their native habitats, it is advantageous to safeguard them there. In wildlife reserves, endangered animals are subject to rigorous monitoring. A small number of individuals can be preserved for breeding in the conservation areas to ensure their survival if they reproduce and increase in number while they are protected.
In order to understand more about the animals that live there, biologists are allowed to conduct activities and research in wildlife sanctuaries. A few sanctuaries take in injured and abandoned animals, heal them, and then release them back into the wild. Animal refuges safeguard threatened animals and shield them from predators and people.
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India State wise List
S No. |
States |
Wildlife Sanctuaries |
1. | Assam | Nambor WLS |
Dihing Patkai WLS | ||
East Karbi Anglong WLS | ||
Chakrashila WLS | ||
Amchang WLS | ||
2. | Bihar | Kaimur WLS |
Gautam Budha WLS | ||
Pant (Rajgir) WLS | ||
Valmiki WLS | ||
3. | Chhatisgarh | Bhairamgarh WLS |
Badalkhol WLS | ||
Bhoramdev WLS | ||
Udanti Wild Buffalo WLS | ||
4. | Goa | Bondla WLS |
Madei WLS | ||
5. | Gujarat | Kutch Desert WLS |
Porbandar Lake WLS | ||
Jambugodha WLS | ||
Wild Ass WLS | ||
Ratanmahal WLS | ||
Thol Lake WLS | ||
Sasan Gir Sanctuary | ||
Mitiyala WLS | ||
6. | Haryana | Bhindawas WLS |
N Khaparwas WLS | ||
Kalesar WLS | ||
7. | Himachal Pradesh | Bandli WLS |
Daranghati WLS | ||
Dhauladhar WLS | ||
Talra WLS | ||
Pong Dam Lake WLS | ||
Nargu WLS | ||
9. | Jharkhand | Lawalong WLS |
Parasnath WLS | ||
Palkot WLS | ||
10. | Karnataka | Someshwara WLS |
Bhadra WLS | ||
Bhimgad WLS | ||
Brahmagiri WLS | ||
Cauvery WLS | ||
Pushpagiri WLS | ||
Sharavathi Valley WLS | ||
11. | Kerala | Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary |
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary | ||
Aralam WLS | ||
Chimmony WLS | ||
Idukki WLS | ||
Malabar WLS | ||
12. | Madhya Pradesh | Bori WLS |
Gandhi Sagar WLS | ||
Ken Gharial WLS | ||
National Chambal WLS | ||
Orcha WLS | ||
13. | Maharashtra | Koyana WLS |
Painganga WLS | ||
Bhimashankar WLS | ||
Tungareshwar WLS | ||
Great Indian Bustard WLS | ||
14. | Manipur | Yangoupokpi-Lokchao WLS |
15. | Meghalaya | — |
16. | Mizoram | Dampa WLS (TR) |
Ngengpui WLS | ||
Baghmara Pitcher Plant WLS | ||
17. | Nagaland | Fakim WLS |
Rangapahar WLS | ||
18. | Odisha | Baisipalli WLS |
Chilika (Nalaban) WLS | ||
Hadgarh WLS | ||
Satkosia Gorge WLS | ||
19. | Punjab | Abohar WLS |
Harike Lake WLS | ||
Jhajjar Bacholi WLS | ||
20. | Rajasthan | Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary |
Jawahar Sagar WLS | ||
Mount Abu WLS | ||
Ramsagar WLS | ||
Shergarh WLS | ||
21. | Sikkim | Fambong Lho WLS |
Kitam WLS (Bird) | ||
Maenam WLS | ||
22. | Tamil Nadu | Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) WLS |
Karaivetti WLS | ||
Pulicat Lake WLS | ||
Vedanthangal WLS | ||
Kalakad WLS | ||
23. | Tripura | Gumti WLS |
Rowa WLS | ||
Trishna WLS | ||
24. | Uttarakhand | Askot Musk Deer WLS |
Binsar WLS | ||
Govind Pashu Vihar WLS | ||
Kedarnath WLS | ||
Sonanadi WLS | ||
25. | Uttar Pradesh | Hastinapur WLS |
Ranipur WLS | ||
Sohagibarwa WLS | ||
Sur Sarovar WLS | ||
Chandraprabha WLS | ||
National Chambal WLS | ||
26. | West Bengal | Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary |
Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary | ||
Haliday Island WLS | ||
Ballavpur WLS | ||
Lothian Island WLS | ||
Mahananda WLS |
List of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India in UTs
Here’s complete list of Wildlife Sanctuaries in Union Territories of India 2023:
S No. |
UTs |
Wildlife Sancuary |
1. | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Bamboo Island WLS |
Barren Island WLS | ||
Chanel Island WLS | ||
Peacock Island WLS | ||
Turtle Islands WLS | ||
2. | Jammu & Kashmir | Gulmarg WLS |
Limber WLS | ||
Nandini WLS | ||
3. | Lakshadweep | Pitti WLS (Bird) |
4. | Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Dadra & Nagar Haveli WLS |
Fudam WLS |
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India FAQs
Q. How many wildlife sanctuary are there in India?
Ans. There are 565 existing wildlife sanctuaries in India covering an area of 122560.85 km2, which is 3.73% of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, May. 2022). Another 218 sanctuaries are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report covering an area of 16,829 km.
Q. Which is the 1st wildlife sanctuary in India?
Ans. The first sanctuary or national park established in India is Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary which is many in one -a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam, India.
Q. Which is the largest wildlife sanctuary of India?
Ans. The Ranthambore National Park, located in the state of Rajasthan, is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India. It serves as a national reserve for the tigers
Q. Which is the famous wildlife sanctuary in India?
Ans. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary having been proposed as a world heritage site by UNESCO, this is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in India where wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy the rich flora and fauna all around and some o the world’s tallest and oldest oak trees
Q. Which is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India 2022?
Ans. Rann of Kutch, also known as the Indian Wild Ass sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India.
Q. Which is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the world?
Ans. Extending across nearly half of all of Greenland, Northeast Greenland National Park is the largest of its kind in the world. Established in 1974, Greenland’s only national park is said to be 77 times larger than Yellowstone National Park and protects 375,000 square miles of a designated international biosphere reserve.
Other Indian Geography Topics
Other Fundamental Geography Topics