๐ฏ Chapter 03 ยท Topic 01 ยท National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries in India
Key differences, complete list of major parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and exam-ready facts.
National Park vs Wildlife Sanctuary
Both are protected areas under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, but differ significantly in the degree of protection and permissible activities.
| Feature | National Park | Wildlife Sanctuary |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Authority | Declared by State Legislature | Declared by State Govt / Collector |
| Human Activity | No human activity permitted | Some activities permitted (grazing, forestry) |
| Private Ownership | No private ownership allowed | Private ownership may exist |
| Boundary | Fixed by legislation | Can be changed by State Govt |
| Protection Level | Highest โ no compromise | Moderate โ limited human use |
| Grazing | Strictly prohibited | Permitted in some cases |
| Conversion | Cannot be downgraded | Can be upgraded to National Park |
โก Exam Tip: A Wildlife Sanctuary can be upgraded to a National Park, but a National Park cannot be downgraded. The boundary of a National Park can only be altered by the State Legislature.
Key National Parks of India
India currently has 106 National Parks covering approximately 44,378 sq km (about 1.35% of India’s total area).
| National Park | State | Established | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett NP | Uttarakhand | 1936 (First NP of India) | Tigers; first Project Tiger reserve (1973) |
| Kaziranga NP | Assam | 1974 | One-horned rhinoceros; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Gir Forest NP | Gujarat | 1975 | Only habitat of Asiatic Lion in the world |
| Sundarbans NP | West Bengal | 1984 | Bengal Tiger; mangroves; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Ranthambore NP | Rajasthan | 1980 | Tigers; former royal hunting ground |
| Kanha NP | Madhya Pradesh | 1955 | Barasingha (hard-ground swamp deer); tigers |
| Bandipur NP | Karnataka | 1974 | Elephants, tigers; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Periyar NP | Kerala | 1982 | Elephants; tiger reserve; Periyar Lake |
| Valley of Flowers NP | Uttarakhand | 1982 | Alpine flowers; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Hemis NP | Ladakh (J&K) | 1981 | Largest NP in India; Snow Leopard |
| Manas NP | Assam | 1990 | Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog; UNESCO WHS; Project Tiger |
| Namdapha NP | Arunachal Pradesh | 1983 | Largest NP in NE India; Snow Leopard, Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard |
| Bandhavgarh NP | Madhya Pradesh | 1968 | Highest tiger density in India |
| Pench NP | MP / Maharashtra | 1975 | Inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” |
| Kuno NP | Madhya Pradesh | 2018 | Cheetah reintroduction (2022) |
๐ฟ UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Natural): Kaziranga NP, Sundarbans NP, Valley of Flowers NP, Manas NP, Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers NPs (combined), Khangchendzonga NP (mixed site).
Key Wildlife Sanctuaries
India has 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries covering approximately 1,19,776 sq km. Some have been upgraded to National Parks over time.
| Wildlife Sanctuary | State | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatpur (Keoladeo Ghana) | Rajasthan | Migratory birds; UNESCO WHS; first Ramsar site (1981) |
| Chilika Lake WLS | Odisha | Irrawaddy dolphins; migratory birds; Ramsar site |
| Vedanthangal | Tamil Nadu | Oldest bird sanctuary in India (1858) |
| Mudumalai WLS | Tamil Nadu | Elephants; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Dachigam WLS | J&K | Hangul (Kashmir Stag); critically endangered |
| Gahirmatha Marine WLS | Odisha | Olive Ridley sea turtles; mass nesting (Arribada) |
| Manjira WLS | Telangana | Gharial; freshwater crocodile |
โก Quick Numbers: India has 106 National Parks + 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries + 18 Biosphere Reserves + 75 Ramsar Sites + 54 Tiger Reserves = ~1000+ Protected Areas covering ~5% of India’s land area.
Important Firsts & Records
- First National Park: Jim Corbett NP, Uttarakhand (1936) โ originally called Hailey National Park
- Largest National Park: Hemis NP, Ladakh (~4,400 sq km)
- Smallest National Park: South Button Island NP, Andaman & Nicobar (~0.03 sq km)
- Oldest Bird Sanctuary: Vedanthangal, Tamil Nadu (1858)
- First Tiger Reserve: Jim Corbett (1973, under Project Tiger)
- Highest Tiger Density: Bandhavgarh NP, Madhya Pradesh
- Only Asiatic Lion Habitat: Gir Forest NP, Gujarat
- Largest Mangrove Forest: Sundarbans (India + Bangladesh)
๐ฟ State with Most National Parks: Madhya Pradesh has the most National Parks (9) in India, followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands (9) and Arunachal Pradesh (2).
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Revision Checklist โ Topic 01
โ Difference between National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (7 key points)
โ India has 106 National Parks and 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries
โ Jim Corbett โ first NP (1936), first Tiger Reserve (1973)
โ Hemis NP โ largest; South Button Island โ smallest
โ Kaziranga โ one-horned rhino; UNESCO WHS
โ Gir โ only Asiatic Lion habitat in the world
โ Sundarbans โ Bengal Tiger; mangroves; UNESCO WHS
โ Valley of Flowers โ UNESCO WHS; alpine flowers
โ Kanha โ Barasingha (hard-ground swamp deer)
โ Bandhavgarh โ highest tiger density
โ Vedanthangal โ oldest bird sanctuary (1858)
โ Kuno NP โ Cheetah reintroduction (2022)
โ Bharatpur (Keoladeo Ghana) โ migratory birds; UNESCO WHS
โ India has 106 National Parks and 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries
โ Jim Corbett โ first NP (1936), first Tiger Reserve (1973)
โ Hemis NP โ largest; South Button Island โ smallest
โ Kaziranga โ one-horned rhino; UNESCO WHS
โ Gir โ only Asiatic Lion habitat in the world
โ Sundarbans โ Bengal Tiger; mangroves; UNESCO WHS
โ Valley of Flowers โ UNESCO WHS; alpine flowers
โ Kanha โ Barasingha (hard-ground swamp deer)
โ Bandhavgarh โ highest tiger density
โ Vedanthangal โ oldest bird sanctuary (1858)
โ Kuno NP โ Cheetah reintroduction (2022)
โ Bharatpur (Keoladeo Ghana) โ migratory birds; UNESCO WHS