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Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Wildlife sanctuaries are specifically those areas that aim to preserve and protect the natural habitats of various species of animals and plants. These areas ensure the survival and well-being of wildlife in their natural environment and protect them from human interference.

India is home to many beautiful and diverse wildlife sanctuaries. These sanctuaries are not only a refuge for wildlife but these sanctuaries also work to protect wildlife from extinction. These wildlife sanctuaries are identified by the government all over India. This article highlights the list of wildlife sanctuaries in India.

Wildlife sanctuaries in India

India is endowed with a wide variety of biodiversity. Apart from the national parks, India has many wildlife sanctuaries. The UPSC always asked questions on wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, Bird Sanctuaries, sacred trees, Biosphere reserves, etc. specifically in the preliminary exam. In our articles, we have already discussed the list of national parks and biosphere reserves in India.

List of Wildlife sanctuaries in India

In India, there are 573 existing wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of 123,762.56 km2, which is 3.76% of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database Centre, Nov. 2023). Along with another 218 sanctuaries are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report covering an area of 16,829 km2.

S.No.  

State/UT

Total number of Wildlife Sanctuaries
1 Andhra Pradesh 13
2 Arunachal Pradesh 13
3 Assam 17
4 Bihar 12
5 Chhattisgarh 11
6 Goa 6
7 Gujarat 23
8 Haryana 7
9 Himachal Pradesh 28
10 Jharkhand 11
11 Karnataka 38
12 Kerala 18
13 Madhya Pradesh 24
14 Maharashtra 49
15 Manipur 7
16 Meghalaya 4
17 Mizoram 9
18 Nagaland 4
19 Odisha 19
20 Punjab 13
21 Rajasthan 25
22 Sikkim 7
23 Tamil Nadu 33
24 Telangana 9
25 Tripura 4
26 Uttar Pradesh 26
27 Uttarakhand 7
28 West Bengal 16
29 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 97
30 Chandigarh 2
31 Dadar & Nagar

Haweli

1
32 Daman & Diu 1
33 Delhi 1
34 Jammu & Kashmir 14
35 Ladakh 2
36 Lakshadweep 1
37 Puducherry 1
Total 573

As you can see, India has many wildlife sanctuaries, and remembering all of them is neither feasible not desirable as the cost-to-benefit ratio is not promising. The list of important wildlife sanctuaries in India that the candidates must go through before sitting for UPSC Prelims 2025.

Largest Wildlife Sanctuary in India

Ranthambore National Park, which is situated in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, is one of India’s biggest and most well-known tiger reserves. It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955.

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India with States wise

Here the wildlife sanctuaries are given in state-wise order so that the candidates can revise them easily at the time of examination.

Sl. 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

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India: UTs

Sl. 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

Important Wildlife Sanctuaries in India for Exam

State Wildlife Sanctuaries
Andhra Pradesh Nagarjunasagar Wildlife Sanctuary
Srisailam Sanctuary
Manjira Wildlife Santuary
Gujarat Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
Sasangir Wildlife Sanctuary
Haryana Sultanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Uttarakhand Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary
Tamil Nadu Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Rajasthan Sambhar Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
Karnataka B R Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Wildlife Sanctuary
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Maharashtra Sanjay Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh Kerera Wildlife Sanctuary
Sikkim Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary
Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
Uttar Pradesh Hastinapur Sanctuary
Kishanpur Sanctuary
National Chambal Sanctuary

 

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FAQs

Which National Park is the biggest in India?

Ranthambore National Park, which is situated in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, is one of India’s biggest and most well-known tiger reserves. It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955.

How many wildlife sanctuaries are there in India?

In India, there are 573 existing wildlife sanctuaries.

In which state is the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary located?

Sikkim