National Parks and Sanctuaries

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are Government-declared protected areas with the primary objective of protecting biodiversity, saving flora and fauna, and restoring natural ecological balance. Spectacular natural beauty in India's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries attracts millions of tourists every year. There are a few basic distinctions between national parks and sanctuaries.

What is a National Park?

The Government may designate an area of adequate ecological, geo-morphological and natural significance as a national park. There are no human activities permitted while tourism is allowed within the park in some areas. The harvesting of forest resources and the grazing of animals are strictly forbidden. These practices can be carried out by wildlife authorities in coordination with the National or State Wildlife Board.

The first Indian national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, and later renamed Corbett National Park.

In 1972, the Government of India enacted the Wildlife Conservation Act with the intention of effectively protecting the country 's wildlife and regulating wildlife trafficking, smuggling and illegal trade.

Another initiative called 'Project Tiger' was initiated in 1973 to save Royal Bengal Tigers' declining population. India boasts a total of 104 national parks.

'Project Elephant' was introduced later in 1992, with the goal of preserving the vulnerable wild Asian elephants and their habitat.

Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park are among the best national parks in India to spot Royal Bengal Tigers situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala in the southern part of India is very famous for its spectacular sightings of wildlife. The Maharashtra and Gujarat states boast incredibly rich wildlife in the west region.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a popular wildlife destination of Maharashtra located some 145 km from Nagpur. Gir National Park is renowned for its magnificent Asian lions while in Gujarat.

What is a Wildlife Sanctuary?

Wildlife Sanctuary is a demarcated area for the conservation of a particular flora and fauna species.

The State authorities can require restricted human activities for the people living within it. For example, Wildlife authorities can require the grazing of livestock for a particular group living there.

Any neglect of wildlife is criminal crime and destruction of forest resources requires a National or State Wildlife Board approval.

First wildlife sanctuary in India is Vedanthangal Lake Birds Wildlife Sanctuary. It was created in 1936. 

• Arial Island WLS

• Bamboo Island WLS

• Wild Ass WLS

• Kibber WLS

• Narsinghgarh WLS

• Tipeshwar WLS

These are some of the list of wildlife sanctuaries in India

In this article, let’s see the difference between wildlife sanctuary and national park.

Difference Between Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

Top 10 national parks in India

Kanha National Park: 

• It has core zone of 363 square miles

• It is the biggest national park in Central India

• Approximately 105 Bengal tigers are present

Bandhavgarh National Park:

• It has core area of 40 square miles and a buffer area of approximately 154 square miles

• It preserves 36 other mammals, including leopards, chital, dhole and nilgai (“blue bulls”), more than 150 species of birds, and approximately 80 species of butterflies.

Kaziranga National Park:

• It is listed under UNESCO Natural Heritage in India

• It preserves Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, sloth bears, Gangetic dolphin, and many migratory birds.

Nagarhole National Park:

• Nagarhole was once the Maharajah of Mysore's hunting grounds, and was declared a tiger reserve in 1999

• It preserves herbivores in Asia, and the largest gathering of Asiatic elephants in the world.

Ranthambore National Park:

• Ranthambore National Park covers a area of  much larger 502 square mile tiger reserve

• It preserves approximately 45 Bengal tigers

Periyar National Park:

• It has core zone is 135 square miles and creates watershed of two major rivers

• Periyar is well known for its thick, tropical evergreen forests.  

Gir National Park:

• It is the only remaining natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. In fact, it is the only place in the world where you can see lions roaming wild outside of Africa.

• Gir National Park is the Asiatic lion's only remaining natural habitat. In reality, Gir is the only place in the world where lions can be seen wildly roaming outside Africa.

• However, through the involvement of the Junagadh Nawabs and the Forest Department, Currently 523 lions are there in Gir National Park.

Sundarbans National Park:

• It has 513 square miles, Sundarbans National Park is situated within a larger UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve.

• Approximately 100 Bengal tigers live in the watery world of the Sundarbans, having adapted to an almost amphibious life.

Nanda Devi Biosphere and Valley of Flowers National Parks:

• It is the India’s second highest peak, is acclaimed as a goddess by Hindus, governs the national park, and has helped preserve and protect the region

• Both parks contain noteworthy populations of endangered species, including the snow leopard and Himalayan musk deer.

Jim Corbett National Park:

• Corbett is home to more than 200 Bengal tigers and is considered as the highest number of any tiger reserve in India. Corbett is also a famous place for birding, with roughly 650 species of resident and migratory bird

Key Points:

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India are created along with Biosphere Reserves solely to protect some of the rare and endangered species of both flora and fauna. The sanctuary of wildlife and national parks are protected areas and all host a large range of wild animals and birds. A sanctuary may be converted to a national park, but not the vice versa.