India has a diverse wildlife. The diversity of wildlife in the Indian subcontinent is second only to that of the Amazon rain forests, among all terrestrial habitats. This wonderful diversity allows India to boast of a number of wildlife sanctuaries. The most famous of these are safe breeding grounds to the royal Bengal tiger and the Asiatic lion. Apart from these majestic cats, the wildlife sanctuaries in the country are famed for their elephants, rhinos, and a rich variety of migratory birds.

These wildlife sanctuaries are veritable tourist destinations. People from all over the country and the world visit these sanctuaries with hopes of viewing the animals in their natural habitat, totally alienated from human activities.

The following is a list of famous wildlife sanctuaries across India:

• Corbett National Park
• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• Kanha National Park
• Periyar National Park
• Bandipur National Park
• Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
• Sunderbans National Park
• Kaziranga National Park
• Sariska National Park
• Sasangir National Park
• Bandhavgarh National Park
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
• Nagarhole National Park
• Simlipal National Read the rest of this entry »

The basic aim of a wildlife sanctuary is to protect the wildlife: plants, animals as well as birds. So, it comes as no surprise that every wildlife sanctuary will be host to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Most sanctuaries and national parks exist with the sole purpose of protecting endangered species that may be found in that region. Species such as the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, polar bear, Indian rhino, great white shark, emperor penguin, etc need to be saved from the brink of extinction. The wildlife sanctuaries not only allow these species to exist in their natural habitat, but steps are also taken to ensure that their numbers go on the rise. The officials in charge of the sanctuary ensure that enough security measures are taken so as not to allow any illegal activities such as poaching in and around the premises of the forest reserves. Also, the newborn animals and the young are closely monitored and proper care is given. The cutting down of trees is strictly prohibited, in a bid to protect whatever precious little forest is left. A census is taken from time to time, and the number of animals belonging to each species is carefully observed.

The aid of the indigenous people living in the forest area is vital for animal conservation. Indigenous people would have made the forest their home many years ago, and their understanding of their surroundings plays a crucial part in helping the forest rangers in their quest for animal conservation. The ways of the tribals play a huge role in the maintenance of the balance of the ecosystem. The officials in charge of the wildlife reserves employ the natives to help in the conservation. This not only provides Read the rest of this entry »

There was a time when forests were in abundance around the globe, and a rich variety of species thrived in them. However, rapid industrialization in the past several decades has almost all but managed to vanish these forests all over the world. Also, in an attempt to protect his own life, man has wantonly been killing wild animals. That is not the end of the story though: poaching and hunting as a sport of the elite has also been rampant all over the world. What this has done is that it has drastically reduced the wildlife population on planet earth. It took some time for man to realize the importance of these havens for wild animals. The forests, and the animals they house, are not only flourishing ecosystems by themselves, but are also greatly important to the overall balance of the environment. So, to protect these ecosystems and hence, mother earth, the idea of wildlife sanctuaries was mooted.

Wildlife sanctuaries are basically a natural forest area that has been cordoned off, so that there is no further destruction of the ecosystem in the name of “industrialization”. The entire gamut of Flora and Fauna in the sanctuary is tended to in a manner that is as unobtrusive as possible, so as not to upset the delicate balance of nature that exists. The region’s wildlife is constantly monitored, and the numbers of each species in the area is kept track of. The basic aim of the officials in charge of the sanctuary is to make sure that the numbers of the wildlife species, especially the endangered ones, do not dwindle.

The wildlife sanctuaries’ animals are not the only ones taken care of. In many cases, tribals living in the area are also considered to be an integral part of the reserve, and thus are considered in the census-making as well. In fact, the aid of the tribals is crucial to the proper invigilation of the sanctuary.

Today, a part of almost every major forest, or grassland, is demarcated as a wildlife reserve. These sanctuaries serve many purposes. They act as a safe habitat for wild animals; safe from poachers and other predators. The wildlife sanctuaries also attract tourists from across the world. This helps in the generation of invaluable income to the country. These sanctuaries are a great way of generating employment opportunities among the natives in the region. All this of course with the added benefit of preservation of natural beauty of the region.

In view of the responsibilities bestowed upon us humans to take care of the Earth, it is imperative that we step forward and ensure that these wildlife sanctuaries are well protected from deforestation, industrialization, poaching and other illegal activities. The endangered species that these sanctuaries protect need to be constantly overseen and studied, and steps must be taken so as to make sure that Read the rest of this entry »