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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 |
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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