Wildlife Sanctuary

A wildlife sanctuary is an area where birds and animals are safeguarded and preserved safely in their native habitats, away from illicit activities such as poaching and trafficking. Natural reserve, biosphere reserve, and conservation area are other words for wildlife refuge. They’re crucial for studies and research. These are owned by charities and research institutes and are directly regulated by the government. There are strong bans on killing, poaching, or capturing the birds and animals that live in these areas. These are mostly established for the preservation of endangered animals. Furthermore, no human activity is permitted here, and no disturbances are permitted. The animal habitats’ environs are similarly protected, and no disruptions are permitted in these regions. 

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

In India, there are around 543 wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of 118,918 square kilometres. The following are a some of the most well-known:

• Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka is a tiger reserve and protected area located 23 kilometres south of Bhadravathi and 38 kilometres northwest of Chikmagalur. In 1951, the Mysore government recognised it as a Wildlife Sanctuary. It was designated as a Project Tiger Reserve in 1998. It’s a biological hotspot with over 120 plant species and a diverse range of wild animals, including wild boar, elephants, black leopards, sambar, jackals, and a variety of birds.

• Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir, Gujarat. The sanctuary is also known as Sasan Gir. It was established in 1965 and spans 1,412 square kilometres of land. There are around 400 plant species and 2,375 animal and bird species that have been identified. This wildlife sanctuary’s main purpose is to protect and increase the population of the Asian Lion, which is a critically endangered species.

• The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary lies 18 kilometres north of Marayoor in Kerala’s Idukki district’s Devikulam taluk. It’s one of the state’s protected territories’ twelve wildlife sanctuaries. In India, there is just one rehabilitation centre for the Indian Star Tortoise. There are around 600 animal and bird species, as well as 963 different types of blooming plants.

• Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is a 38.6-square-kilometre wildlife sanctuary. It was founded in 1915. It is home to jungle cats, Assam macaques, Rhesus monkeys, Himalayan flying squirrels, Indian leopards, and a variety of birds.

• Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary is a 33.93-square-kilometre wildlife sanctuary located in Assam’s Sivasagar district. It was built primarily as a Bird Sanctuary in the year 1999. The Brahmaputra and Disang rivers run through it on the northwest and south sides, respectively. There are more than 267 distinct bird species to be seen here.

In this location, some 70 distinct migrating bird species have been sighted and identified. Some of the most commonly seen birds include bar-headed geese, spot-billed ducks, ferruginous duck, white-necked stork, and red-crested pochard. Rare species including white-rumped vultures and gryphons have been observed at the reserve. This sanctuary is a birdwatcher’s dream, and a huge number of visitors have been seen there.

• Other wildlife reserves worth visiting are Chilika Bird Sanctuary, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Importance of Wildlife Sanctuaries

Help in Wildlife Preservation: It is difficult to protect endangered animals by relocating them because it is time-consuming and expensive, so these animals are protected in their natural environment where they can be monitored, reproduce, and grow in number while under the sanctuary’s strict protection. Biologists and other researchers can investigate the behaviour and characteristics of these creatures by visiting these sanctuaries. They are also allowed to roam and move around in their natural habitat rather than being confined in a cage.

Forests are disappearing, and we need your help to save them. There was a time when we could only see trees around us, but now we only see buildings. Villages, towns, and cities have been built on top of these forests. However, because this is protected ground, the woods in these sanctuaries cannot be cut down; instead, they are kept and allowed to grow unhindered. This also aids in the preservation of natural features such as hills and mountains, rivers, valleys, and waterfalls. They are safe from destruction, development, and pollution since they are protected.

Aid in the Preservation of Culture and History: The woodlands in which these sanctuaries are located are also home to several tribes that have lived there for centuries. Tribes like the Saara Adivasis in Odisha also contribute to the preservation of the forests in which they reside. The tribes who live there are also protected because they don’t have to confront developers who would otherwise destroy the forest if these sanctuaries were not established. This also aids in the preservation of their culture and customs.

Endangered Species Protection: Because of our habits and demands, many species of plants and animals are on the verge of extinction. Sanctuaries provide a secure haven where human activities do not interfere with natural processes and where nature can flourish without human interference.

Biodiversity conservation: Biodiversity refers to the abundance of habitats, ecosystems, and biological diversity on the globe, which has been dwindling due to human activity. As previously said, sanctuaries aid in the conservation of all biodiversity in a given region by keeping it free of humans and their activities that could harm the ecosystem. In-situ conservation is a type of conservation in which the environment is preserved in its natural state and shape.

Ecotourism: People are not permitted to visit wildlife sanctuaries unless accompanied by a professional guide. Ecotourism is the tourism of environmentally important locations to support wildlife conservation and observation. The general public can view animals in their natural habitat, free of cages, here. They can observe animals in their herds, even their young, without worry for their safety. One of the key advantages of ecotourism is that the fees earned for accessing the sanctuary can be used to raise funds. This money can then be utilised to improve the refuge.

Public Awareness and Use: The general public is under-informed of sanctuaries and their benefits. However, an increasing number of people are becoming knowledgeable about sanctuaries and becoming members of committees that aid in their adoption. Celebrities also contribute to raising awareness by adopting animals and establishing charities on behalf of sanctuaries all around the world.

Conclusion

Wildlife sanctuaries are a country’s natural treasure, and they provide a variety of benefits to both humans and the environment, thus they must be preserved at all costs. There are around 543 wildlife sanctuaries in India, covering a total area of 118,918 square kilometres. The goal of wildlife sanctuaries is to safeguard natural environments as well as the species that live there. Many lovely sanctuaries dot the land, which is surrounded by vast rivers, forests, and mountains.