Wildlife Sanctuary: Importance, List of Top 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

What is Wildlife Sanctuary?

A wildlife sanctuary in India is a protected area of nature that reflects regional, national, and religious values while also upholding long-standing traditions and rituals to conserve nature.

• They are all brought together by the noble objective of maintaining the current biological diversity of flora and fauna endemic to the area, in any location, and in the jurisdiction of any state.
• In simple terms, we can say that a wildlife sanctuary is an area where birds, other animals, and flora are safeguarded and preserved safely in their natural habitats to protect them from illicit activities like poaching and animal trafficking.

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

According to the Wildlife Institute of India, there are currently 565 wildlife sanctuaries that occupy 12560.85 square kilometres, or 3.73%, of the nation’s total land area (National Wildlife Database, May 2022). The protected area network report suggests 218 additional sanctuaries totalling up to 16,829 square kilometres of area.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India State Wise	Names
Wildlife Sanctuary in Andaman and Nicobar Islands	Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary Landfall Island Wildlife Sanctuary Lohabarrack (Saltwater Crocodile) Wildlife Sanctuary Spike Island-I and Spike Island-II Wildlife Sanctuaries Tillongchang Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu	Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa	Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh	Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Telangana	Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra	Tadoba Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary Ghodazari Wildlife Sanctuary Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha	Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary Chandaka Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh	Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Mizoram	Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary Tokalo Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura	Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat	Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary Barda Wildlife Sanctuary Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary Purna Wildlife Sanctuary Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand	Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary Koderma Wildlife Sanctuary Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya	Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Manipur	Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in MP	Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary Bori Wildlife Sanctuary Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary Karera Wildlife Sanctuary Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary Palpur Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary Pench Wildlife Sanctuary Noradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Phen Wildlife Sanctuary Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal	Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary West Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar	Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim	Barsey Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh	D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary Pakke (Pakhui) Wildlife Sanctuary Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan	Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Phulwari Ki Nal Wildlife Sanctuary Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary Sawai Mansingh Wildlife Sanctuary Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary Todgarh Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in UP	Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary Patna Wildlife Sanctuary Pilibhit Wildlife Sanctuary Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary Sohelwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana	Abubshahar Wildlife Sanctuary Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand	Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh	Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Jammu and Kashmir	Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary Ramnagar Rakha Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Ladakh	Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka

As per the updated list of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India, there are approximately 30 in Karnataka. Some of the important ones are listed below.

1. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
5. Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
6. Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary
11. Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
12. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
13. Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
14. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
15. Chincholi Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam

There are 15-20 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam. Some of the important and famous ones are listed below.

1. Amchang WLS
2. Barail WLS
3. Barnadi WLS
4. Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni WLS
5. Burachapori WLS
6. Chakrashila WLS
7. Deepor Beel WLS
8. Dihing Patkai WLS
9. East Karbi Anglong WLS
10. Garampani WLS
11. Hollongapar Gibbon WLS
12. Lawkhowa WLS
13. Marat Longri WLS
14. Nambor WLS
15. Nambor Doigrung WLS
16. Porbitora WLS
17. Pani-Dihing Bird WLS
18. Sonai Rupai WLS

State Nature Wildlife Sanctuaries

The objective of a state nature wildlife sanctuary is to safeguard and study the natural course of biological processes and events, the genetic stock of flora and fauna, species and ecosystems of plants and animals, distinctive and notable ecosystems, and environmental education.

• The natural territories of federal importance include the grounds of state parks, natural forests, and wildlife sanctuaries.
• The regions of state wildlife sanctuaries in India can be categorized as having regional or federal significance.
• When creating territorial integrated schemes, land management plans, district, and urban planning initiatives, and land uses, all forms of wildlife sanctuaries should be considered.
• All notably protected natural components and entities (land, water, soil, biological species) on the grounds of a state wildlife sanctuary that serve as an example of the typical natural environment, traditional or unique landscapes, or locations for the preservation of genetic funds of biodiversity are entirely erased from monitory usages.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India: State-Wise Area Covered

As per the Wildlife Institute of India; the state-wise wildlife sanctuaries are listed as follows:

State & UT	State Area (km²)	No. of WLS	Area (km²)	% of State Area
Andhra Pradesh	160229	13	6771.4	4.23
Arunachal Pradesh	83743	13	7614.56	9.09
Assam	78438	17	1728.95	2.2
Bihar	94163	12	2851.67	3.03
Chhattisgarh	135191	11	3760.28	2.78
Goa	3702	6	647.91	17.5
Gujarat	196022	23	16618.42	8.48
Haryana	44212	7	118.21	0.27
Himachal Pradesh	55673	28	6115.97	10.99
Jharkhand	79714	11	1955.82	2.45
Karnataka	191791	35	7923.23	4.13
Kerala	38863	18	2156.21	5.55
Madhya Pradesh	308245	24	7046.19	2.29
Maharashtra	307713	49	7861.7	2.55
Manipur	22327	7	708.14	3.17
Meghalaya	22429	4	94.11	0.42
Mizoram	21081	9	1359.75	6.45
Nagaland	16579	4	43.91	0.26
Odisha	155707	19	7094.65	4.56
Punjab	50362	13	326.6	0.65
Rajasthan	342239	25	5592.38	1.63
Sikkim	7096	7	399.1	5.62
Tamil Nadu	130058	31	6292.07	4.84
Telangana	114840	9	5672.7	4.94
Tripura	10486	4	603.64	5.76
Uttar Pradesh	240928	26	5822.2	2.42
Uttarakhand	53483	7	2690.12	5.03
West Bengal	88752	16	1440.18	1.62
Andaman & Nicobar	8249	94	377.83	4.58
Chandigarh	114	2	26.01	22.82
Dadra & Nagar Haveli	491	1	92.17	18.77
Daman & Diu	112	1	2.19	1.96
Delhi	1483	1	19.61	1.32
Jammu & Kashmir	163090	14	1729.03	1.06
Ladakh	59146	2	9000	15.22
Lakshadweep	32	1	0.01	0.03
Puducherry	480	1	3.9	0.81
TOTAL	3287263	565	122560.85	3.73

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India Map

It will become easy for students to remember the location of wildlife sanctuaries in India using a visual resource such as a map. The following map shows the important wildlife sanctuaries found in India:

Wildlife Sanctuary in India

One of the best examples of a Wildlife Sanctuary in India is the Ranthambore National Park. It is the largest sanctuary among all situated in Rajasthan. A wildlife sanctuary in India is a place where the animals reside with complete protection from any kind of illegal activity. Such areas provide a safe and secure environment, especially for threatened and endangered species.

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Karnataka and is a famous tiger reserve in the country. It consists of a large variety of plant species as well which amount to 120 in number. It further consists of a variety of wild animal species which include elephants, leopards, jackals, sambar and different types of birds. It is a diverse wildlife sanctuary in India.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the state of Kerela. This wildlife sanctuary in India was established in the year 1973. It spans a wide area of 344.44 square km. It is an important area in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

The animals that are part of this wildlife sanctuary in India are Tigers, Elephants, Panthers, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Malabar giant squirrels, Wild dogs, etc.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in India is located in the Morigaon district of Assam. It was set up in the year 1987 and is spread across a wide area of 38.85 square kilometres. It is located near the city of Guwahati.

The most famous animal found in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is the great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. The other animals found in this wildlife sanctuary in India are the Barking deer, Wild buffalo, and Leopard and near to 2000 birds who migrated reside here.

Importance of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

The role of wildlife sanctuaries in India is crucial when it comes to preserving and reproducing biological diversity in a region. This is briefly explained in the pointers given below:

Wildlife Conservation:

Since it is difficult and expensive to relocate endangered creatures, these animals are usually kept in their native habitats where they can be closely watched, where they can procreate, and increase their population while still living under the stringent surveillance of the wildlife sanctuary and associated experts.

Preservation of Landscape:

Forests are slowly becoming distant to the human eye. We used to be able to see trees in our immediate surroundings as kids, but today, all we can see are multistorey buildings towering the cities and even towns.

• These forests are cleared to make room for buildings, cities, and urban societies.
• However, as these sanctuaries are on protected land, the woods are safeguarded and permitted to grow unhindered.

Safeguarding the endangered species:

Because of our routines and daily requirements, many plants and animal species are threatened today and are also on the brink of becoming extinct. Wildlife sanctuaries provide a secure land area to the species where nature and the fauna can flourish in an obstructed manner by human activity.

Eco-tourism:

Eco-tourism is the practice of visiting environmentally significant locations to witness and support wildlife protection. Here, members of the public can view animals in their natural habitats, unrestrained, unlike the cages.

• They can observe animals in their groups, together with their young, without worrying about their safety.
• The ability to generate revenue by charging visitors through sanctuary entry fees is one of the main advantages of ecotourism.
• The sanctuary can be expanded with the money made using the entry fees.

Environmental Education:

An average person is not sufficiently aware of the wildlife sanctuaries in India, their functions, and their advantages. However, more and more people are learning about them and becoming a part of support groups, and volunteering with the sanctuaries.

Wildlife Sanctuary in India UPSC

The wildlife sanctuary in India is an important segment of the UPSC Prelims and Mains syllabus. Candidates should also keep a check on current affairs related to the recent events and news about the wildlife sanctuaries, as many questions on the ongoing acts and judgements about famous sanctuaries are asked in the UPSC exam.

Wildlife Sanctuary UPSC Question

Check the following sample question on Wildlife Sanctuary UPSC Notes to understand the difficulty level and the type of questions generally asked in the exam:

Question: Take a look at the following pairs

1. Dampa Tiger reserve – Mizoram
2. Gumti wildlife sanctuary – Sikkim
3. Saramathi peak – Nagaland

Which of the above combinations is correct?

1. 1 only
2. Two and three only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

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