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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.
Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in India
The largest wildlife sanctuary in India is the Ranthambore National Park, which is situated in the state of Rajasthan
Total Wildlife Sanctuary in India
There are 567 existing wildlife sanctuaries in India covering an area of 125564.86 km2 As per July, 2023
Wildlife Sanctuaries in India List
Here is the updated List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India 2024:
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:
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 |