Ranthambore National Park Gallery

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Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur. Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot.
Ranthambore National park is spread over an area of 1,334 sq km along with its nearby sanctuaries like - the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary.The park is majorly famous for its tigers and is one of the best locations in India to see the majestic predators in its natural habitat. The tigers can be easily spotted even during the day time busy at their ordinary quest- hunting and taking proper care of their young ones.
Ranthambore is also counted as the famous heritage site because of the pictorial ruins that dot the wildlife park. Certainly, a visit to Ranthambore National Park is a treat for every wildlife and nature lover. The time spend on watching tigers roaming around, verdant greenery, a gamut of other species of chirpy birds and animals is priceless and worth enough to be explored at least once in a life.
Ranthambore is best known for its large tiger population. As tourism in the park increased, so did the population of neighbouring villages. This led to increasing amounts of fatal human-tiger interactions and poaching. The Indian Government started Project Tiger in 1973 with an allotted area of 60 mi2. It was later expanded to become what is now called, the Ranthambore National Park. Besides tigers, the reserve has thriving bird population with more than 270 different species of birds here.

Ranthambore National Park Animals:

Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Rufoustailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Coomon Yellow Bats, Desert Cats, Fivestriped Palm Squirels, Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Foxes, Indian Gerbilles, Indian Mole Rats, Indian Porcupines, Longeared Hedgehogs, Ratels, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Civets and Common mongoose.

Birds in Ranthambore:

  Ranthambore, due to its varied terrain and abundance of water bodies, has an excellent population of birds, resident and migrant. In total, a list of 272 species have been documented. Some of the best locations to watch birds are Malik Talao, the Ranthambore Fort, Rajbagh Talao, Padam Talao and in the Jhalra area. The most important birds in Ranthambore include's Graylag Goose, Woodpeckers, Indian Gray Hornbills, Common Kingfishers, Bee Eaters, Cuckoos, Parakeets, Asian Palm Swift, Owl, Nightjars, Pigeon, Dove, Crakes, Snipes, Sandpipers, Gulls, Terns, Great Crested Grebe, Eagles, Darters, Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, Bitterns, Flamingos, Ibis, Pelicans, Storks, Pittas, Shrikes, Treepies, Crows, Orioles, Cuckoo-Shrikes, Minivets, Drongos, Flycatchers, Ioras, Wood Shrikes, Pipits, Bayas, Sparrows, Finches, Wagtails, Munias, Bulbul, Mynas, Falcons etc.

Flora in Ranthambore:

The vegetation in the park is mostly of the dry deciduous type with a large variety consisting of nearly 300 species. The majority of the tree cover is however mainly made up of :
1. Am (Magnifera iIndica)
2. Imli (Tamarindicus indica)
3. Babul (Accasia nilotica)
4. Banyan (F icus benghalensis)
5. Ber (Zizyphus mauritania)
6. Dhak or Chila (flame of the forest){Butea monosperma}
7. Dhok (Anogeossis pendula)
8. Jamun (Syzygium cumini)
9. Kadam (Authocephalus cadamba)
10. Khajur (Phoenix sylvestris)
11. Khair (Accacia catechu)
The forests of Ranthambore have a lot of contrasting vegetation
12. Karel (Capparis decidua)
13. Khejda (Prosopis specigera)
14. Kakera (Flacourtia indica)
15. Mohua (Madhuca indica)
16. Neem (Azadirachta indica)

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Changthang Wildlife Sanctuaries 

The Changtang is a high altitude plateau in western and northern Tibet extending into southeastern Ladakh,with vast highlands and giant lakes. From Eastern Ladakh Changtang stretches approximately 1600 km east into Tibet, as far as the state of Qinghai. All of it is geographically part of Tibetan Plateau. It is the home of the Changpa nomads.

Climate-

The climate of Changtang is harsh and unpredictable. The summers are warm but short and thunder storms can occur at any time of year, often with hail. The winters are cold and Arctic-like, despite the latitude, due to the high elevation.
Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary
The Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary (or the Changtang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary) is a high altitude wildlife sanctuary located in the Ladakhi adjunct of the Changtang plateau in the Leh District, Jammu and Kashmir. It is important as one of the few places in India with a population of the kiang or Tibetan wild ass, as well as the rare Black-necked Crane.
The altitude of the sanctuary varies from 14,000 to 19,000 feet, and the topography is formed of deep gorges and vast plateaus. There are around 11 lakes and 10 marshes in the Changtang Cold Desert Sanctuary, and the majestic River Indus dances through the sanctuary, dividing it into two parts.
The cold desert vegetation of this wildlife Sanctuary though quite sparse but the ecological marginal conditions have employed some remarkable characteristics in these vegetation, which has high medicinal properties.

The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is a house for many rare Flora and Fauna of Ladakh, which are well cared for in this wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is located at a high altitude in Ladakh district of Jammu Kashmir.Changthang wildlife sanctuary is surrounded by two large and world famous water lakes that are Tsomoriri and Pangong Tso.Tso-Moriri is one of the huge mountain lakes in the southeastern part of Ladakh. Karzok village is situated on the South West bank of this lake and it's the world's highest inhabited village.The flora and fauna of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary has natural grasslands and a wide variety of more than two hundred species of wild plants that grow in higher pasture of this area and most of which is edible by animals.

Fauna:

Dachigam is considered home to some of the unique Himalayan range of flora and fauna. Primary amongst them is the Hangul or Kashmir stag, the most endangered species of red deer in the world. Some birds and animals found during this time of the year include the cinnamom sparrows, black and yellow grosbeak, black bulbuls, monal pheasant and the Himalayan gray langur. The main predator in the park is the leopard and other scavengers, which also feed on the prey of the leopard, are the jackal, hill fox, yellow-throated marten and the wild boar. Himalayan griffon, lammergeier, leopard cat, long tailed blue magpie, jungle cat and Himalayan weasel can also be sighted during this period.

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Wildlife Destinations in India

Bangalore: India is blessed with a number of adventurous wildlife tourist destinations. The unique wildlife tourism in India attracts tourists from worldwide to visit the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India embedded with beautiful and natural surroundings. These parks are decked naturally with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Listed below are the top five wildlife destinations in India.

Ranthambor National Park

Ranthambore National Park is known for its tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these majestic predators in the jungle. Tigers can be easily spotted even during the day time. A good time to visit Ranthambore National Park is in November and May when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common. Its deciduous forests were once a part of the magnificent jungles of Central India. The park covers an area of 392 km², and is known for its tiger population, and is one of India's Project Tiger reserves. Other major wild animals include leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, hyena, sloth bear and chital. It is also home to wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles. Ranthambore is also the site for one of the largest banyan trees in India.

Sundarbans National Park

The Sundarbans National Park is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and a Biosphere Reserve located in the Sundarbans delta in the Indian state of West Bengal. This region is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. The present Sundarbans National Park was declared as the core area of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1977. On May 4, 1984 it was declared a National Park.The Sundarbans forest is home to more than 400 tigers. The Royal Bengal Tigers have developed a unique characteristic of swimming in the saline waters, and are famous for their man-eating tendencies. Tigers can be seen on the river banks sunbathing between November and February.Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger; Fishing Cats, Leopard Cats, Macaques, Wild Boar, Indian Grey Mongoose, Fox, Jungle Cat, Flying Fox, Pangolin, Chital, are also found in abundance in the Sundarbans.

Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is a national park and a Tiger Reserve in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. In the 1930s, Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 km² . Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km² in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km² and the neighboring 110 km² Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve."Kanha Tiger Reserve". Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. Retrieved 14 April 2010. This makes it the largest National Park in Central India.
At Kanha the majestic tiger is the keystone species. The big cats tigers and leopards are tertiary carnivores in the food chain. Besides the big cats wild dogs, wild cat, fox and the jackal are carnivores commonly seen at Kanha.Among the deer species Swamp Deer or Hard Ground Barasingha is pride of the place as it is the only sub species of swamp deer in India (Cervus Duavcelli Branderi). The animal is adopted to hard ground unlike swamp deers of the North which live in marshy swamps. Kanha National Park has been instrumental in rescuing the “Swamp Deer” from extinction. Indian Gaur (Bos guarus) is in reality an ox race it is found in Kanha.

Pench National Park

The Pench National Park is situated in the north-western state of Maharashtra in India, and is located at a distance of 70 kilometers from the city of Nagpur. The Pench National Park spreads over a vast area of 275 square kilometers, and the park stretches out into the neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh. The flora of the Pench National Park in Maharashtra is typical of the southern tropical deciduous forest. The best time to visit the Pench National Park is between the month s of February and April. The wildlife park is very popular for its deer and leopards.

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National Parks India

India is unique in the richness and diversity of its vegetation and wildlife. India's national parks and wild life sanctuaries (including bird sanctuaries) from Ladakh in Himalayas to Southern tip of Tamil Nadu, are outstanding  and the country continues to "wow" the tourists with its rich bio-diversity and heritage.  Wildlife sanctuaries in India attracts people from all over the world as the rarest of rare species are found here. With 96 national parks and over 500 wildlife sanctuaries, the range and diversity of India's wildlife heritage is matchless. Some of the important sanctuaries in India are The Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve – Uttaranchal, Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Ranthambhor National Park - Sawai Madhopur, Gir National Park - Sasangir (Gujarat) etc. Supporting a great variety of mammals and over 585 India has unmatched variety of flora and fauna that makes it extensively different from the rest of the world. Tourists visiting for wildlife tour in India, will enjoy during any season, but to experience migrating birds, tiger, leopard, barasingha and other rare species, then winter is the best season to visit sanctuaries especially for those tourists coming for wildlife tour in India. Due to water scarcity in the hot weather, animals come out in herd in search of water.

Popular Willdife Parks of India

Bandhavgarh National Park

The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl encircled by cliffs and wooded Vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass and reed covered wetlands where Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in the sheer cliffs.

Flora In Bandhavgarh

Initially just 105.40-sq-kms in area, Bandhavgarh with 25 resident tigers, was noted for its high-density tiger population. Today, it has been extended to an area of 437-sq-kms. About half the Bandhavgarh park is covered with fine trees of Sal, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north. The main wildlife viewing is still done in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque, wooded hills.

Ranthambore National Park

The landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts. The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perennial lakes and streams and forest suddenly opening up into large areas of Savannah. The terrain of Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is the typically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most prominent tree.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is famous for its Tigers and is a favorite with photographers. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora - species list includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30 mammals.

For the wildlife savvy, Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary today offers an intense diversity of flora and fauna. Tigers, the park's pride makes it one of the best places in the country to observe them. Apart from that a large numbers of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Gazzelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number of birds.

Corbett National Park

Nestling in the foothils of the Himalayas, the tiger reserve extends over an area of 1200 sq. km. The Ramganga River flows through the park and little forest streams tumble through the ravines. While dense stands of sal cloak the higher ridges, mixed deciduous forests are found throughout the park

"Project Tiger" was launched here in 1973. In addition to tigers, leopards and elephants, four species of deer - hog deer, sambar, chital and barking deer - are found here. Besides these, Corbett is a haven for 50 mammals, 580 kinds of birds and 25 reptile species. Basking along the banks of the Ramganga are the fish-eating gharial and the mugger or marsh crocodile. The river is rich in the golden mahaseer.

Eravikulam National Park

The Idukki district of Kerala is the perfect place to admire the Western Ghats mountain range, preferably from the confines of Eravikulam National Park. Another potential UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park has some impressive animal residents, from golden jackals to gaurs, porcupines to jungle cats.

Kaziranga National Park

A Unesco World Heritage Site in the remote, northeastern state of Assam, Kaziranga National Park has many significant claims to fame. For one, the park is home to two-thirds of the planet’s Great One-horned Rhinoceros population. Another feather in the park’s proverbial cap is that it contains the highest density of tigers of any conservation area in the world.

Kudremukh National Park

Though conservationists worry about the potential harmful effects of iron ore mines in the Kudremukh mountain range of Karnataka state, the national park still has a bevy of impressive attractions. Sloth bears, wild dogs, Malabar civets.

Nagarhole National Park

Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole is less than 100 km from Mysore in Karnataka. The tropical conservation area teems with elephants, macaques, leopards, wild dogs, bison and has a notable tiger population as well.

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Nelapattu Bird SanctuaryAndhra Pradesh

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is in Nelapattu village. It is located on the East Coast about 20-km north of the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary in the Nellore district. Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is just 50-km from Chennai. The Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is one of the largest pelican habitats in Southeast Asia. The total area of the sanctuary is 404-kms. Pulicat Lake near Nellore is the second largest brackish water lake in India and attracts thousands of migratory birds this world-renowned sanctuary on the banks of Pulicat lake, is spread over 486 sq.km. In Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary you can sopt the well-known Siberian Cranes and nearly 160 species of birds from as far away as the USA, China, Antarctica among others. Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is the breeding gound for rare and endangered species like Grey Pelicans, Open-Billed Storks, Little Cormorants, Spoon Bills, White Ibises and Night Herons. Egrets, Terns and Ducks also find it an ideal roosting place.

Wild life in the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary:

As the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is situated on the banks of Pulicat lake, this bird sanctuary is the breeding ground for numerous rare and endangered bird species like Grey Pelicans, Open-Billed Storks, Little Cormorants, Spoon Bills, White Ibises and Night Herons. Egrets, Ducks, to name only a few. Other bird species like Babblers, Pelicans, Flamingos, Open Billed Stork, Coot, Night Heron and Waders are readily seen birds in the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary. This bird sanctuary also provides habitats to many mammals like jackals, slender loris and reptiles like monitor lizard, tortoises and snakes. Migratory birds all across the world find the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary a best visiting place for perching and nesting every year.

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Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat

This sanctuary with area of 7506.22 sq.km. is the largest in the state, encompasses a true saline desert where thousands of Flamingoes nest and breed in the world famous Flamingo City while a 5000-year-old city lies buried in an eternal silence close by. This area was declared a sanctuary in February 1986.
The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary of Gujarat comprises of forest area, revenue wasteland and territorial water of the Arabian Sea. Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the north-eastern part of Kutch district that borders Pakistan and Wild Ass Sanctuary.
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary represents one of the largest seasonal saline wetland areas having water depth between 0.5 to 1.5 metres. But, after October-November, water dries up and the entire area turns into saline desert. The sanctuary supports wide variety of water birds and bewildering range of mammalian wildlife.

About the Sanctuary

The sanctuary has some other attractions as well. Embedded below the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks on Khadir, Kuvar and Pachchham bets, are plenty of fossils of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. There are records of recovery of fossils of dinosaurs, crocodiles (of Dinosaurian period) and whales (of tertiary period). Fossilised forests have also been found in the rocks belonging to Jurassic and Cretaceous eras. The fossils of invertebrates include those of amonites, sea urchins and such othersThe sanctuary has some other attractions as well. Embedded below the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks on Khadir, Kuvar and Pachchham bets, are plenty of fossils of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. There are records of recovery of fossils of dinosaurs, crocodiles (of Dinosaurian period) and whales (of tertiary period). Fossilised forests have also been found in the rocks belonging to Jurassic and Cretaceous eras. The fossils of invertebrates include those of amonites, sea urchins and such others.

Important animals-

Wolf, hyena, jackal, chinkara, wild ass, bluebull, wild boar, Indian porcupine, pale hedgehog, mongoose, rufous-tailed hare, desert fox, spiny tailed lizard etc.

Important birds:

Greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, pelicans, black-necked storks, cormorant, Indian cormorant, brahmini duck, pintail, spotbill, shoveller, pochard, sandpiper, gulls, terns, stints, plovers etc

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Great Indian Bustard Maharashtra

Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary (established in 1979, also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary of Maharashtra) is a wildlife sanctuary for the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) at Solapur, Maharashtra, India. The land is drought-prone and semi-arid.
Maharashtra is one of the six states of India where Great Indian Bustards (Ardeotis nigriceps) are still seen . The Great Indian Bustard at Nannaj and Karmala was first identified By Mr B.S.Kulkarni in 1972 and with his constant efforts to save the bird had resulted in Dr. Salim Ali visiting Nannaj and starting a research project. Mr Kulkarni wrote exentsively in local newspapers and made people aware of its existence and he is still active in trying to protect the bird and its habitat at Nannaj, near Solapur. In former days the bustard was a common bird in the dry districts of Maharashtra.

Description:-

The Great Indian Bustard is a large ground bird with a height of about a metre. It is unmistakable with its black cap contrasting with the pale head and neck. The body is brownish with a black patch spotted in white. The male is deep sandy buff coloured and during the breeding season has a black breast band. The crown of the head is black and crested and is puffed up by displaying males. In the female which is smaller than the male, the head and neck are not pure white and the breast band is either rudimentary, broken or absent.

Distribution and habitat:-

This species was formerly widespread in India and Pakistan but is increasingly restricted to small pockets.They make local movements but these are not well understood although it is known that populations disperse after themonsoons.Males are said to be solitary during the breeding season but form small flocks in winter. Males may however distribute themselves close together and like other bustards they are believed to use a mating system that has been termed as an exploded or dispersed lek.The male is polygamous.
The habitat where it is most often found is arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, tall grass interspersed with cultivation. It avoids irrigated areas.[3] The major areas where they are known to breed are in central and western India and eastern Pakistan. The dry semi-desert regions where it was found in parts of Rajasthan has been altered by irrigation canals that have transformed the region into an intensively farmed area.

Behaviour and ecology:-

The Great Indian Bustard is omnivorous. Apparently, insects, consisting mainly of Orthoptera, but also beetles, particularly Mylabris sp.Are preferred in the diet. Alternately, they will take grass seeds, berries (largely of the genera Ziziphus and Eruca), rodents and reptiles (in Rajasthan they are known to take Uromastyx hardwickii. In cultivated areas, they feed on crops such as exposed groundnut, millets and pods of legumes.
Breeds during March to September during which time the inflated fluffy white feathers of the male are inflated and displayed. Territorial fights between males may involve strutting next to each other, leaping against each other with legs against each other and landing down to lock the opponents head under their neck. During courtship display, the male inflates the gular sac which opens under the tongue, inflating it so that a large wobbly bag appears to hang down from the neck.The tail is held cocked up over the body.The male also raises the tail and folds it on its back.The male periodically produces a resonant deep, booming call that may be heard for nearly 500m.The female lays a single egg in an unlined scrape on the ground.Only the females are involved in incubation and care of the young.The eggs are at risk of destruction from other animals particularly ungulates and crows.Females may use a distraction display that involves flying zigzag with dangling legs.

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Hoollongapar Gibbon SanctuaryAssam

History

 The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary derives from a patch of forest once part of the Hollongapar Reserve Forest in the state area of Jorhat in Assam . Set aside as a Reserve Forest on 27 August 1881, it was named after its dominant tree species, Hollong or Dipterocarpus macrocarpus. At the time, it was considered an integral part of the foothill forests of the Patkai mountain range. Although the sanctuary is currently completely surrounded by tea gardens and a few small villages, it used to connect to a large forest tract that ran to the state of Nagaland. The protected area started with 206 ha and then shrank in 1896 as sections were de-reserved. As tea gardens began to emerge between 1880 and 1920, and villages were established during the 1960 to rehabilitate people from Majuli and adjoining areas who had lost their lands to floods, the forest became fragmented and the reserve became isolated from the foothills.

faunae:-

The sanctuary has a rich biodiversity.Also found at the sanctuary are elephants, tigers (Panthera tigris), leopards (Panthera pardus), jungle cats (Felis chaus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), three types of civet, four types of squirrel, and several other types of mammal. At least 219 species of bird and several types of snake are known to live in the park

Mammals:

1. western hoolock gibbon
2. stump-tailed macaque
3. northern pig-tailed macaque
4. eastern Assamese macaque
5. Bengal slow loris
6. Indian Rhesus macaque
7. capped langur
8. hog deer
9. sambar
10.porcupine
11.tiger
12.common leopard
13. jungle cat

Reptiles:

1.Indian python
2.cat snake
3.Indian cobra
4.common rat snake

Birds:

1. RED JUNGLEFOWL, Gallus gallus,
2. KALIJ PHEASANT, Lophura leucomelanos,
3. RUDDY SHELDUCK, Tadorna furruginea
4. COMMON TEAL, Anas crecca.
5. COMMON POCHARD, Aythya ferina.
6. SPECKLED PICULET, Picumnus Innominatus.
7. WHITE-BROWED PICULET, Sasia ochracea.
8. RUFOUS WOODPECKER, Celeus brachyurus.
9. GREY-CAPPED PYGMY WOODPECKER, Dendrocopos canicapillus.
10.FULVOUS-BREASTED WOODPECKER, Dendrocopos macei.
11.LESSER YELLOWNAPE, Picus chlorolophus
12.GREATER YELLOWNAPE, Picus flavinucha.
13.STREAK-THROATED WOODPECKER, Picus xanthopygaeus
14.GREY-HEADED WOODPECKER, Picus canus
15.HIMALAYAN FLAMEBACK, Dinopium shorii
16.COMMON FLAMBACK, Dinopium javanense.
17.GREATER FLAMEBACK, Chrysocolaptes lucidus.
18.LINEATED BARBET, Megalaima lineata.
19.GOLDEN-THROATED BARBET, Megalaima franklinii.
20.BLUE-THROATED BARBET, Megalaima asiatica
21.BLUE-EARED BARBET, Megalaima australis.
22.COPPERSMITH BARBET, Megalaima haemacephala.
23.ORIENTAL PIED HORNBILL, Anthracoceros albirostris
24.GREAT HORNBILL, Buceros bicornis.
25.COMMON HOOPOE, Upupa epops

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Wildlife Sanctuaries of India

India has over 441 animal sanctuaries, referred to as Wildlife Sanctuaries (IUCN Category IV Protected Area). Among these, the 28 Tiger Reserves are governed by Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger. Some wildlife sanctuaries are specifically named Bird Sanctuary, eg. Keoladeo National Park before attained National Park status. Many National Parks were initially Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Wildlife sanctuaries of national importance to conservation, usually due to some flagship faunal species, are named National Wildlife Sanctuary, like National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary for conserving the Gharial (1978)

Year	Name	State	Area (km²)
1997	Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary	Assam	2098.62
1979	Great Indian Bustard	Maharashtra	8496.44
1986	Kutch Desert	Gujarat	7506.22
1973	Wild Ass	Gujarat	4953.7
1972	Nelapattu	Andhra Pradesh	4040
1991	Dibang Valley	Arunachal Pradesh	4149
1987	Changthang	Jammu & Kashmir	4000
1978	Nagarjunasagar Srisailam	Andhra Pradesh	3568
ND	Karakoram	Jammu & Kashmir	1800
2008	Sathyamangalam	Tamil Nadu	1411.6
1978	Kaimur	Bihar	1342.22
ND	Gundlabrahmeswaram	Andhra Pradesh	1194
1965	Gir	Gujarat	1153.42
1975	Noradehi	Madhya Pradesh	1034.52
1972	Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh	975.24
1965	Kawal	Andhra Pradesh	893
1952	Pakhal	Andhra Pradesh	879.3
1977	Pakhui	Arunachal Pradesh	861.95
1979	Simlipal	Orissa	845.7
ND	Dandeli	Karnataka	834.16
1953	Eturnagaram	Andhra Pradesh	803
1987	Lachipora	Jammu & Kashmir	800
1976	Satkosia Gorge	Orissa	795.52
1989	Kamlang	Arunachal Pradesh	783
1976	Palamau	Jharkhand	767
1981	Narayan Sarovar (Chinkara)	Gujarat	765.79
1976	Ratapani	Madhya Pradesh	688.79
1976	Bhimbandh	Bihar	681.9
1983	Keladevi	Rajasthan	676
1963	Kolleru	Andhra Pradesh	673
1977	Kinnerasani	Andhra Pradesh	655.41
1962	Sechu Tuan Nala	Himachal Pradesh	655.32
1979	National Chambal	Uttar Pradesh	635
ND	Rollapadu	Andhra Pradesh	614
1978	Tamor Pingla	Madhya Pradesh	608.52
1982	Schoolpaneshwar	Gujarat	607.7
1988	Sunabema	Orissa	600
1986	Askot	Uttarakhand	599.93
1985	Melghat	Maharashtra	597.23
1978	Papikonda	Andhra Pradesh	590.68
1971	Kumbhalgarh	Rajasthan	578.26
ND	Mundanthurai	Tamil Nadu	567.38
1974	Sitanadi	Madhya Pradesh	553.36
1975	Vikash Kumar Pandit	Madhya Pradesh	551.55
1989	Balaram-Ambaji	Gujarat	542.08
1987	Biligiri Rangswamy Temple	Karnataka	539.52
1977	Bori	Madhya Pradesh	518.25
1981	Ghatigaon	Madhya Pradesh	512
1983	Phulwari	Rajasthan	511.41
1987	Cauvery	Karnataka	510.51
1986	Andhari	Maharashtra	509.27
ND	Srivenkateshwara	Andhra Pradesh	506.94
1982	Kaimoor	Uttar Pradesh	500.75
1985	Dampa	Mizoram	500
1976	Pulicat	Andhra Pradesh	500
1983	Todgarh Rawali	Rajasthan	495.27
1974	Bhadra	Karnataka	492.46
ND	Srivilliputhur	Tamil Nadu	485.2
1954	Govind Pashu Vihar	Uttar Pradesh	481.04
1978	Bagdogra	Madhya Pradesh	478.9
1950	Periyar	Kerala	472
ND	Srilanka Malleswara	Andhra Pradesh	464.42
1977	Pachmarhi	Madhya Pradesh	461.85
1978	Valmikinagar	Bihar	461.6
ND	Pulicat	Tamil Nadu	461.02
1987	Sohagabarwa	Uttar Pradesh	428.2
1987	Overa-Aru	Jammu & Kashmir	425
1985	Koyna	Maharashtra	423.55
1979	Sita Mata	Rajasthan	422.94
1962	Tundah	Himachal Pradesh	419.48
1974	Sharavathi Valley	Karnataka	413.23
1976	Kateraniaghat	Uttar Pradesh	400.09
1981	Kotgarh	Orissa	399.05
1974	Shettihally	Karnataka	395.6
1928	Manas	Assam	391
1988	Gumti	Tripura	389.54
1958	Radhanagiri	Maharashtra	371.88
1974	Gandhi Sagar	Madhya Pradesh	368.62
1975	Sanjay (Dubri)	Madhya Pradesh	364.69
1976	Singhalila	West Bengal	362.4
1986	Kalsubai Harishchandra	Maharashtra	361.71
ND	Kaundinya	Andhra Pradesh	357
1982	Rupi Bhabha	Himachal Pradesh	354.14
1983	Sardarpur Florican	Madhya Pradesh	348.12
1985	Debrigarh	Orissa	346.91
ND	Kuno - Palpur	Madhya Pradesh	345
1981	Palpur - Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh	344.68
1973	Waynad	Kerala	344.44
1986	Jaikwadi	Maharashtra	341.05
1978	Samarsot	Madhya Pradesh	340.35
1962	Kugti	Himachal Pradesh	330
1986	Painganga	Maharashtra	324.62
1983	Pong Dam Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh	322.7
ND	Mudumalai	Tamil Nadu	321.55
1978	National Chambal	Madhya Pradesh	320
1985	Chandoli	Maharashtra	308.97
1982	Ramgarh Bundi	Rajasthan	307
1988	Badrama	Orissa	304.03
1987	Sonanandi	Uttar Pradesh	301.18
1982	Jamwa Ramgarh	Rajasthan	300
1980	Marine (Gulf of Kutch)	Gujarat	293.03
1960	Mountabu	Rajasthan	288.84
1976	Singhori (Sindhari)	Madhya Pradesh	287.91
1973	Parambikulam	Kerala	285
1980	Mehao	Arunachal Pradesh	281.5
1983	National Chambal	Rajasthan	280
1972	Gomardah	Madhya Pradesh	277.82
1984	Kuldiha	Orissa	272.75
1955	Darah	Rajasthan	265.83
1983	Pamed Wild Buffalo	Madhya Pradesh	262
1986	Gautala Autramghat	Maharashtra	260.61
1976	Gautam Buddha	Bihar	259.48
1986	Buxa	West Bengal	251.89
1988	Kanji	Jammu & Kashmir	250
1983	Udanti Wild Buffalo	Madhya Pradesh	247.59
1974	Mukambika	Karnataka	247
1983	Panpatha	Madhya Pradesh	245.84
1976	Barnawapra	Madhya Pradesh	244.66
1962	Nargu	Himachal Pradesh	243.13
1962	Bandli	Himachal Pradesh	239.47
1978	Coringa	Andhra Pradesh	235.79
1977	Ranipur	Uttar Pradesh	230.31
1983	Bhensrodgarh	Rajasthan	229.14
1972	Kishanpur	Uttar Pradesh	227.12
ND	Kalakkadu	Tamil Nadu	223.58
1989	Eaglenest	Arunachal Pradesh	217
1990	Jaldapara	West Bengal	216.51
1987	Spike Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	211.7
1978	Lawalang	Bihar	211.03
1985	Nakti Dam	Bihar	206.4
1986	Kabar	Bihar	204
1981	Karera	Madhya Pradesh	202.21
1975	Intanki	Nagaland	202.02
ND	Krishna	Andhra Pradesh	194.81
1976	Dalma	Jharkhand	193.22
1985	Baretha	Rajasthan	192.76
1979	Barda	Gujarat	192.31
1978	Hadgarh	Orissa	191.06
1978	D'ering Memorial	Arunachal Pradesh	190
1975	Abohar	Punjab	188.24
1976	Hazaribagh	Jharkhand	186.25
1987	Gulmarg	Jammu & Kashmir	186
1985	Lakhari Valley	Orissa	185.87
1989	Yagoupokpi Lokchao	Manipur	184.8
1974	Bramhagiri	Karnataka	181.29
1978	Jessore	Gujarat	180.66
1985	Koderma	Jharkhand	177.95
1969	Yawal	Maharashtra	177.52
1982	Chandaka Dampara	Orissa	175.79
1934	Sonai Rupai	Assam	175
1987	Trishna	Tripura	170.56
1981	Baisipalli	Orissa	168.35
1990	Purna	Gujarat	160.84
1970	Nagzira	Maharashtra	152.81
1991	Ngengpui	Mizoram	150
1967	Bhagwan Mahavir	Goa	148.52
1992	Karlapat	Orissa	147.66
1978	Itanagar	Arunachal Pradesh	140.3
1983	Bhairamgarh	Madhya Pradesh	138.95
1985	Nameri	Assam	137.07
1980	Pranahita	Andhra Pradesh	136.02
1986	Chaprala	Maharashtra	134.78
1985	Interview Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	133
1985	Bhimashankar	Maharashtra	130.78
1990	Jambughoda	Gujarat	130.38
1952	Pocharam	Andhra Pradesh	130
1958	Neyyar	Kerala	128
1976	Murti Wildlife	West Bengal	127.22
1958	Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala	125
1955	Kheoni	Madhya Pradesh	134.778
1969	Nal Sarovar	Gujarat	120.82
1962	Gobind Sagar & Naina Devi	Himachal Pradesh	120.67
1974	Ranebennur	Karnataka	119
1982	Khalasuni	Orissa	116
1987	Chautala	Haryana	113.96
1983	Fensatallite	Madhya Pradesh	110.24
1976	Chail	Himachal Pradesh	110.04
1987	Hirpora	Jammu & Kashmir	110
ND	Sundha Mata	Rajasthan	107
1949	Gamgul Siahbehi	Himachal Pradesh	105.46
1987	Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka	105
1984	Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary	Kerala	105
1968	Bhagwan Mahavir	Goa	105
1975	Badankhoh	Madhya Pradesh	104.35
1984	Sawai Mansingh	Rajasthan	103.25
1987	Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka	102.59
1984	Shenduruny	Kerala	100.32
1986	Nandpur Madmeshwar	Maharashtra	100.12
1989	Sessa Orchid	Arunachal Pradesh	100
1980	Jawahar Sagar	Rajasthan	100
1983	Shergarh	Rajasthan	98.71
1962	Darlaghat	Himachal Pradesh	98.71
1984	Chinnar	Kerala	90.44
1974	Someswara	Karnataka	88.4
1986	Aner Dam	Maharashtra	82.94
ND	Mukkurthi	Tamil Nadu	78.46
1957	Chandra Prabha	Uttar Pradesh	78
1976	Idukki	Kerala	77
1988	Katepurna	Maharashtra	73.69
1985	Orang	Assam	72.6
1984	Balukhand Konark	Orissa	71.72
1962	Shikari Devi	Himachal Pradesh	71.19
1979	Laokhowa	Assam	70.14
1975	Bhitarkanika	Orissa	70
1986	Phansad	Maharashtra	69.79
1976	Tirthan	Himachal Pradesh	68.25
1976	Mahuadaur	Bihar	63.25
1954	Kanawar	Himachal Pradesh	61.57
1970	Bor	Maharashtra	61.1
1955	Van Vihar	Rajasthan	59.93
1974	Narsingarh	Madhya Pradesh	57.19
1985	Churdhar	Himachal Pradesh	56.59
1982	Ratanmahal	Gujarat	55.65
1991	Kane	Arunachal Pradesh	55
1984	Aralam	Kerala	55
1983	Peppara	Kerala	53
1956	Jaisamand	Rajasthan	52
1984	Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary	Sikkim	51.76
1984	Fambong Lho	Sikkim	51.76
1980	Nahargarh	Rajasthan	50
1974	Melkote Temple	Karnataka	49.82
1984	Parasnath	Bihar	49.23
ND	Pabha	Assam	49
1988	Binsar	Uttarakhand	45.59
1981	Ken Gharial	Madhya Pradesh	45
1982	Harike Lake	Punjab	43
1981	Sone Gharial	Madhya Pradesh	41.8
1991	Khawnglung	Mizoram	41
1989	Dipor Beel	Assam	40
1989	Paniya	Gujarat	39.63
1981	Surinsar-Mansar	Jammu & Kashmir	39.58
1976	Senchal	West Bengal	38.88
1987	Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary	Assam	38.83
1962	Raksham Chitkul	Himachal Pradesh	38.27
1976	Lothian Island	West Bengal	38
1962	Naina Devi	Himachal Pradesh	37.19
1978	Siwaram	Andhra Pradesh	36.29
1962	Talra	Himachal Pradesh	36.16
1978	Rajgir	Bihar	35.84
1987	Meanam	Sikkim	35.34
1981	Nandini	Jammu & Kashmir	33.72
1984	Shingba Rhododendron	Sikkim	32.5
1987	Overa	Jammu & Kashmir	32.37
1962	Majathal	Himachal Pradesh	31.64
1954	Manali sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh	31.27
1949	Kalatop & Khajjiar	Himachal Pradesh	30.69
1970	Tansa	Maharashtra	30.41
1974	Nugu	Karnataka	30.32
1974	Ghataprabha	Karnataka	29.78
1962	Lippa Asrang	Himachal Pradesh	29.53
1987	Landfall Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	29.48
1987	Malvan Marine	Maharashtra	29.12
1981	Nongkhyllem	Meghalaya	29
1962	Daranghati	Himachal Pradesh	27.01
1980	Barnadi	Assam	26.22
1987	Limber	Jammu & Kashmir	26
ND	Sukhna	Chandigarh	25.42
1983	Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary	Kerala	25
1983	Crocodile (Lohabrrack)	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	22.21
1986	Hastinapur	Uttar Pradesh	20.73
ND	Tongri	Jammu & Kashmir	20
1978	Manjira	Andhra Pradesh	20
1987	Sepahijala	Tripura	18.53
1954	Khokhan	Himachal Pradesh	17.6
ND	Point Calimere	Tamil Nadu	17.26
1958	Simbalbara	Himachal Pradesh	17.2
1987	Chilka Lake (Nalaban)	Orissa	15.53
1988	Rampura	Gujarat	15.01
1985	Arabithittu	Karnataka	13.5
ND	Indira Priyadarshini	Delhi	13.2
1983	Sailana Florican	Madhya Pradesh	12.96
1981	Ramnagar	Jammu & Kashmir	12.9
1954	Kais	Himachal Pradesh	12.2
1975	Bir Shikargarh	Haryana	10.93
1985	Sagershwar	Maharashtra	10.87
1987	Defence Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	10.49
ND	Hokarsar	Jammu & Kashmir	10
1987	Cinque Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	9.51
1987	Flat Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	9.36
1987	Buchaan Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	9.33
1977	Barren Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	8.1
1987	Kyd Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	8
1972	Bondla Wildlife	Goa	8
1987	Shearme Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	7.85
1987	Paget Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	7.36
1985	Tilanchang Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	6.83
1977	Narcondum Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	6.81
1987	West Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	6.4
1987	East Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	6.11
1976	Halliday Island	West Bengal	5.95
1987	Ranger Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	4.26
1987	Swamp Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	4.09
1987	East (Inglis) Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	3.55
1977	North Reef Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	3.48
1987	Benett Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	3.46
1987	Talabaicha Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	3.21
1987	Point Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	3.07
1987	Baltal	Jammu & Kashmir	3
1987	Bondoville Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	2.55
1987	Table (Delgarno) Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	2.29
1985	Battimalve Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	2.23
1987	James Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	2.1
1979	Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary	Goa	1.8
1987	Reef Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.74
1987	Table (Excelsior) Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.69
1977	South Sentinel Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.61
1987	Sandy Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.58
1987	Roper Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.46
1987	Pitman Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.37
1987	South Brother Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.24
1987	South Reef Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.17
1987	Bluff Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.14
1987	Sir Huge Rose Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.06
1987	Temple Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.04
1987	Ross Island	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1.01
ND	Ranganthittu	Karnataka	0.67
ND	Bir Motibagh	Punjab	ND
ND	Bhagmara	Meghalaya	ND
ND	Tal Chappar	Rajasthan	ND
ND	Renuka	Himachal Pradesh	ND
ND	Shilli	Himachal Pradesh	ND
ND	Bir Bunnerheri	Punjab	ND
ND	Bassi	Rajasthan	ND
ND	National Garhial	Rajasthan	ND
ND	Khijadiya	Gujarat	ND
ND	Bir Gurdialpura	Punjab	ND
ND	Asan Bradge Bird Watching	Uttar Pradesh	ND
ND	Chilla	Uttar Pradesh	ND
ND	Mahavir Swamy	Uttar Pradesh	ND
ND	Nawabganj	Uttar Pradesh	ND
ND	Samaspur	Uttar Pradesh	ND
ND	Dhakna Kolkaz	Maharashtra	ND
ND	Gandhari	Maharashtra	ND
ND	Wainganga	Maharashtra	ND
ND	Dhumkhal	Gujarat	ND
ND	Ushakothi	Orissa	ND
ND	Chandra Prabha	Bihar	ND
ND	Topchanchi	Bihar	ND
ND	Bibhutibhushan	West Bengal	ND
ND	Bethudahari	West Bengal	ND
ND	Ballabhpur	West Bengal	ND
ND	Chapramari	West Bengal	ND
ND	Gorumara	West Bengal	ND
ND	Jore Pokhri	West Bengal	ND
1959	Mahananda	West Bengal	159
ND	Parnadhan	West Bengal	ND
ND	Ramnabagan	West Bengal	ND
ND	Raiganj	West Bengal	ND
ND	Kyongasia Alpine	Sikkim	ND
ND	Garampani	Assam	ND
ND	Siju	Meghalaya	ND
ND	Pulebatze	Nagaland	ND
ND	Fakim	Nagaland	ND
ND	Charilam	Tripura	ND
ND	Lanjamadugu	Andhra Pradesh	ND
ND	Karikili	Tamil Nadu	ND
ND	Vedantangal	Tamil Nadu	ND
ND	Vettangudi	Tamil Nadu	ND
ND	Vallanadu	Tamil Nadu	16.41
ND	Kumarakom	Kerala	ND
1989	Okhla Bird Sanctuary	Delhi/NOIDA	4
1990	Sandi Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh	3.09
2010	Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala	74.21

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