| Assam Wildlife
Sanctuaries |
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Nameri National
Park
Nameri National Park is situated at the foot hills of eastern
Himalayas, about 35 km. from Tezpur. Nameri National Park covers an area of
about 200 square km. Hills, deciduous forests and the river Jia Bhoroli have all
added a unique charm to it. It is situated in the eastern border of Assam in the
valley and mountainous Arunachal Pradesh. Jia Bhoroli river of Assam is famous
for the Mahseer angling, since the time of British. This perennial river
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enters Assam in the plains, near
Bhalukpung after swirling through the rugged mountains of Arunachal. Its is home
of the Golden Mahseer - The Tiger of Indian rivers and a catch for any angler.
Many wildlife animals are found here like the Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Indian
Bison, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Gaur, Himalayan Black Bear, Pangolin, Indian Wild
Dog, Civet Cat, Capped Langur etc. The other reason Nameri is famous for is the
herds of elephants. The park have a high density of elephant population and due
to lessening of forest cover, they sometimes invade human inhabited villages,
which have attracted the attention of wildlife conservationists worldwide.
Nameri is a heaven for bird watchers which include the most endangered White
Winged Wood duck, four species of Hornbill and small and beautiful Scarlet
Minivet. Various species of reptiles, butterflies and moths are also found in
this National Park. Atlas Moth with a wing span of more than 10 inches has also
been spotted here. The best season to visit this park is from October to
April.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
The Dibru-Saikhowa
National Park is the fourth National Park of Assam, that lies partly in
Dibrugarh district and partly in Tinsukia district. This national park is about
13 kms from Tinsukia Town, which is 483 kms from Guwahati. This national park
covers an area of about 340 square kms. Of the seven parts of the park one part
is wet land and the rest is mainly grassland and dense forest. The main
attractions of this park are its semi-wild horse and White winged Wood Duck.
Besides this, other animals like Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Elephant, Sambar,
Slow Loris, Indian wild water Buffalo, Capped Langur, Gangetic River Dolphin,
Indian Wild Dog can be seen in this park. More than 250 varieties of local and
migratory birds are also found in this park. The best season to visit this park
is from November to March.
Orang National Park
Orang National Park is also
known as a mini Kaziranga National Park and covers an area of 78.81 square kms.
The Orang National Park is situated on the north banks of river Brahmaputra in
the Darrang District of Assam, about 150 kms from Guwahati and 31 kms from
Tezpur. Sixty percent of the park is covered by grassland. The animals that can
be seen in the Orang National Park are the One-horned Rhinoceros, Pangolin, Hog
Deer, Civet cat, Otters, Wild Boar, Leopard, Elephant, Sambar, Barking Deer and
Tiger. Besides the animals, varieties of water birds, Green Pigeon, Florican,
Teal, Goose, Pelican, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Large Whistling Tea Great
Adjutant Stork, Kingfisher, Vulture etc. can also be seen in this park.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is
situated in the Morigaon district of Assam, about 60 kms from Guwahati. Pobitora
is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries of Assam. This wildlife sanctuary
covers an area of 38.8 square km. Pobitora is mainly famous for its Great Indian
One-horned Rhinoceros. Other animals such as the Asiatic Buffalo, Leopard, Wild
Bear, Civet Cat etc. are also found here. More than 200 birds and various
reptiles are found in this sanctuary. The best season to visit this sanctuary is
from November to March.
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| Meghalaya Wildlife
Sanctuaries |
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Balpakram National
Park
Balpakram is a fertile virgin land. The unsurveyed belts of
limestone and coal deposits, along with sea shells fossilized into rocks in
Balpakram Hill provide immense scope for geological and archeological studies.
The animals which can be seen in this national park are Elephant, Wild buffalo,
Gaur (Indian bison), Sambar, Barking deer, Wild boar, Slow loris, Capped langur,
Tiger, Leopard, Clouded leopard and the Rare Golden cat.
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| Mizoram Wildlife
Sanctuaries |
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Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary
The Ngengpui Wildlife
Sanctuary is situated in the Lawngtlai District in the south-western part of
Mizoram. It is located very close to the Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Bangladesh
border. The sanctuary covers a total area of 110 square km. and ranges in
altitude from 200 m to about 1200 m above sea level. The wild animals found in
this Sanctuary are Tiger, Clouded leopard, Elephant, Guar, Barking deer, Sambar,
Wild boar, Hoolock Gibbon, Rhesus macaque, Leaf monkey, Common langur,
etc.
Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary
The Lengteng Wildlife
Sanctuary is situated in the eastern part of Mizoram adjacent to Murlen National
Park. The sanctuary covers an approximate area of 80 square km and ranges in
altitude from 400 m to about 2300 m. The second highest Peak in Mizoram can also
be seen in this park. Some of the wild animals and birds found in this sanctuary
are Tiger, Leopard, Sambar, Barking deer, Wild boar, Hoolock gibbon, Rhesus
macaque, Ghoral, Serrow, Hume's Bartailed Pheasant, Kaleej Pheasant.
Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary
The Thorangtlang Wildlife
Sanctuary is situated about 240 km from Aizawl in the Western Part of Mizoram
and very close to Dampa sanctuary. The sanctuary also acts as a corridor for
elephants which migrate from Bangladesh. The area of this sanctuary is 50 square
Km. Tiger, Leopard, Hoolock gibbon, Leaf Monkey, Sambar, Barking Deer and
variety of birds can be seen in this sanctuary.
Phawngpui National
Park
The Phawngpui National Park is situated in South Eastern Mizoram
close to the Myanmar border. The highest peak in Mizoram, the Phawngpui (2360 m)
is located within this park. The park covers a total area of 50 square km. Some
of the animals and birds found in this park are Ghoral, Serrow, Barking deer,
Sambar, Leopard, Blyth's tragopan, Kaelej Pheasant, Hoolock Gibbon, Common
Langur, Rhesus macaque, Stump tail macaque and variety of birds and
orchids.
Murlen National Park
The Murlen National Park is
situated about 245 km east of Aizawl and close to the Myanmar border. This
national park is located close to the Chin Hills. It covers an area of 150
square km and ranges in altitude from 400 m to about 1900 m. Tiger, Leopard,
Himalayan black bear, Hoolock gibbon, Sambar, Barking deer, Ghoral, Serrow,
Rhesus macaque, Wild boar, Pheasant and many varieties of birds and orchids can
be seen in this park. There are five villages around the park and one village
namely Murlen village with seventy families are residing inside the park.
Palak Wildlife Sanctuary
Palak Wildlife sanctuary lies in the
in Saiha District in the southern part of Mizoram. The sanctuary covers an area
of around 15.5 square km. Elephant, wild boar and varieties of birds found in
this sanctuary. Palak Dil, a natural lake is located within the sanctuary. The
Palak Lake area is popularly known as the heaven on earth not only for its
natural beauty but also because it is home to a wide range of beautiful
butterflies and moths.
Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary
Dampa
Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the tri-junction of Bangladesh, Tripura and
Mizoram. Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary is the oldest and the largest wildlife
sanctuary in Mizoram. This wildlife sanctuary is situated in the Mamit District
in the western part of Mizoram, about 127 km from Aizawl. This wildlife
sanctuary sprawls over an area of 650 square kms. and established in 1976. The
virgin forests of Dampa Tlang and Chhawrpial Tlang are the unique natural
features of the sanctuary. It is the home of eastern Himalayan wild animals like
tiger, wild dog, giant squirrel, porcupine, slow loris, leopard, elephant, gaur
(Indian Bison), sambar, swamp deer, barking deer, sloth bear, wild pig, hoolock
gibbon, leaf monkey, langur, rhesus macaque, jungle cat, wild boars and wide
variety of butterflies, birds and flowers. There are 10 villages around the
sanctuary with a population of roughly 10,000 tribes like Mizo, Chakma, and
Riang (Tuikuk).
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| Orissa Wildlife
Sanctuaries |
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Nandankanan Wildlife
Sanctuary
Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary is situated amidst lush green
forest along the banks of Kanjia lake, about 20 kms. from Bhubaneshwar. This
wildlife sanctuary is set in a beautiful natural setting and one of the finest
parks with natural enclosures. The park has an open Lion Safari and first zoo in
the world, where gharials and black panthers are bred in captivity. This
wildlife sanctuary is also known for the white tigers. Leopards, rhinoceros,
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elephants, bear, monkey and
several other types of mammals can also be seen at close quarters in the natural
surroundings. It boasts of a beautiful botanical garden too. Other tourist
attractions in the park include nocturnal animal house, toy train ride, rope-way
ride across a natural lake and boating in the lake.
Simlipal National Park
Simlipal National Park is the
main national park located in the Mayurbhanj district in Orissa. This park has
dense green forests, hilly terrain, broad open valleys, plateaus, grasslands,
sal trees, waterfalls, gorges and rich bio-diversity. It extends over an area of
2750 square km at the heart of which is one of the India's earliest tiger
reserves covering about 300 square km. The topography consists of semi-evergreen
to dry deciduous forests, including 1076 species of plants and 94 varieties of
orchids. About 42 species of mammals, 231 species of birds and 29 species of
reptiles make this place their habitat. The wildlife in this park include tiger,
elephant, leopard, wolf, chital, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer,
gaur, flying squirrel and variety of birds like hill myna, parakeets, hornbills,
peacock, etc. Simlipal is the richest watershed in Orissa and feed several
perennial rivers like Budhabalanga, Khadkei, Khairi-Bhandan, Westdeo, Salandi
etc. Simlipal is a unique and delightful destination for scientists, nature
lovers, students and tourists.
Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary
Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary is unique in geomorphology in India.
Here Mahanadi has out right across the Eastern Ghats and has formed a
magnificent gorge. Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the districts
of Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh and is an attractive place for scientist
and nature lovers. Satkosia gorge wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 796
square km. and has sylvan beauty and excellent natural features. The major
attraction of the area is 22 km. long gorge, known as Satkosia gorge which
divides the area into two distinct parts. The area supports moist deciduous
forest, dry deciduous forests and moist peninsular sal forests. Tiger, leopard,
elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, nilgai, chousingha, sloth
bear, wild dog, varieties of resident and migratory birds and reptiles including
gharial, mugger crocodile, fresh water turtle, poisonous and non-poisonous
snakes can be seen in the sanctuary.
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhitarkanika
Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kendrapada district. Bhitarkanika is
surrounded by rivers such as Brahmani, Baitarani and Dhamara and criss-crossed
by several creeks and creeklets. The area supports rich bio-diversity including
63 species of dense mangroves, estuarine crocodiles, the rare white crocodile,
largest Indian lizards, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes like king cobra and
python, 217 varieties of resident and migratory birds and various mammals
including spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, fishing cat, jungle cat, otter etc.
The sea beach, borderding the sanctuary attracts thousands of olive ridley sea
turtles for mass nesting during the winter months. Bhitarkanika mangrove
ecosystem is unique of its kind and a best reptile refuge in the entire
country.
Badarama Wildlife Sanctuary
Ushakothi, also known as
the Badarama Wildlife sanctuary is located in the Sambalpur district, about 48
km. from Sambalpur on the NH-6 under Bamra Forest Division. This wildlife
sanctuary covers an area of 130 square km. Its prime location in western Orissa
with hilly undulating areas and rich dry deciduous mixed forests provides a
habitat to wide variety of fauna including tiger, leopard, wild elephant, hyena,
wild boar, panther, spotted deer, bison, sambar, bear, porcupine and a number of
birds and reptiles. The best time to visit the sanctuary is in the night between
2000 and 0200 from November to June, accompanied by a guide. The animals can be
best viewed from the watch towers sited near the watering points where the
animals came to drink water.
Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary
Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary is located close to the boundary of
Chhatisgarh state on the western fringe of Orissa in the newly created Nuapada
district. This sanctuary covers an area of 600 square km. of dry deciduous
forests. The plateau on the hill top holds a slightly undulating flat land with
good edible grass. Eleven beautiful waterfalls and seasonal streams which dry
out during summer leaves few deep pools of water. This sanctuary is considered
as an ideal habitat for Barasingha. The other major wildlife species are tiger,
leopard, hyena, barking deer, chital, gaur, sambar, sloth bear, varieties of
birds such as hill myna, pea fowl, partridge and reptiles.
Chandka
Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary
Chandka Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary is
situated 20 kms. from the centre of temple city of Bhubaneswar. Chandka Dampara
Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 176 square km. This small and attractive
sanctuary with undulating topography presents a rich bio-diversity. The mixed
tropical dry decidous and moist deciduous forests including bamboo and planted
teak provide ideal habitat for elephant, leopard, hyena, spotted deer, wild dog,
wild boar, ratel, pangolin, pea fowl, red jungle fowl, white ibis, dab chicks,
open bill stork, egret, python, monitor lizard etc. The natural water body and
forests provides nesting ground for 82 species of migratory and resident
birds.
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| West Bengal Wildlife
Sanctuaries |
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Jaldapara Wildlife
Sanctuary
The Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Alipurduar
sub-division of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal and about 124 kms. from
Siliguri. This wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 114 square km. and
located close to Phuntsholing in Bhutan. The nine tributaries of the Torsa river
flow through the area which is shaded by tall grasses, mighty trees, perennial
streams and sandy riverbanks. This sanctuary was established in the year 1941
for the protection of one-horned rhinos. The one–horned rhino, tiger,
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including the Royal Bengal Tiger,
Wild elephant, Deer, Bear, Sambar, Barking deer, Hog deer, Leopard, Wild pig,
Bison and various other birds can also be seen here. Elephant safaris can be
enjoyed in the Sanctuary. The best time to visit the sanctuary is between
October and May. The nearest airport is situated at Bagdogra. Jaldapara is
connected by road with Darjeeling and Siliguri. The Madarihat is the nearest
railway station which is only 7 kms from the Sanctuary.
Sunderbans National Park
The Sunderbans National
Park lies south of Kolkata, where the Ganga with its various tributaries form
the largest delta of the world. Piyali, 70 kms from Calcutta via Dosarhat is the
gateway to the Sunderbans. Sunderbans means the beautiful forests and derives
its name from the words Sundari and ban, which means "the forests of sundari" or
mangrove trees. Sunderbans is mainly covered by mangrove forests and vast saline
mud flats and covers an area over 2500 square km in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta
and spread across to Bangladesh. The Sunderbans was declared as a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO in 1997. The Sunderbans are the largest estuarine forests in the
world. It is a land of 54 tiny islands, crisscrossed by various tributaries of
Ganga, that was once infested by Arakanese and Portuguese pirates and is now,
the abode of varied flora and fauna. This tiger and biosphere reserve still
preserves the natural habitat of 200 or more Royal Bengal Tigers. Besides Tiger,
Spotted deer, Jungle Cat, Fishing cat, Indian fox, Mongoose, Spotted deer, Wild
pig, Indian flying fox, Wild boar, Small Indian civet, Gangetic dolphin, Rhesus
monkey, Snake, Pangolin, Sea turtle, Cobra, Python and Crocodiles are the other
wildlife which can be seen here. Sunderbans is also the breeding ground of
immense variety of birds like Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Fishing Eagle, White
Bellied Sea Eagle, Seagul, Tern, Kingfisher, Whimprel, Black-tailed Godwit,
Little Stint, Eastern Knot, Curlew, Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Pintail,
White-eyed Pochard and Whistling teal. The Sunderbans are accessible only by
waterways. Motor launch facilities are available round the year. The ideal time
to visit the Sunderbans is during the months of August to March.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Padmaja
Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the famous zoological park in Darjeeling.
This park is located adjacent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and is a
high-altitude wildlife park. This Zoological Park is the home of the Siberian
tiger, Himalayan black bear, Deer, Panda, Panther, Snow leopard, Llama and many
colourful birds
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The four Sunderbans national parks have been lumped together as they all share common features of the estuarine mangrove ecosystem. The main attractions of the Sunderbans are the Tiger, of which the delta harbor large reptiles like the Monitor Lizard, Estuarine Crocodile and the Olive Ridley Turtle, for which there is a conservation programme in the Indian park. The Leopard, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer and Water Buffalo have all become locally extinct from the delta in recent decades.
The best time to visit Sunderbans is during winters between December and February.although the park is open for longer from September to March. This is the period when the maximum migratory birds are also present here.
Sundarban is also the only mangrove forest in the world having the tiger as its indigenous population. As per 2004 census, the tiger population in Indian Sundarban is around There are 58 species of mammals, 55 species of reptiles and around 248 bird species.
Other mammals comprise of Wild boars, Spotted deer, Porcupines and Rhesus macaque. Among the reptiles, the King cobra, the common cobra, Banded krait, Russells Viper comprise the community of venomous reptiles, while the Python, Chequered Kil-Back, Dhaman , Green Whip Snake and several other species constitute the non-venomous snakes.
