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 their numbers increase steadily. The wildlife sanctuaries are the last hope for mankind to preserve nature at its untamed splendor.