Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuary can be defined as the area in which the birds and animals are protected and are kept safely in their natural habitats protecting them from the illegal activities like poaching and trafficking. Other terms for wildlife sanctuary are natural reserve, biosphere reserve or a conservation area. They are important for studies and research purposes.  These are directly controlled by the government and are also owned privately by charities and research institutes. In these areas, there are strict prohibitions against killing, poaching or capturing of the birds and animals present there. These are mainly established for the protection of species that are endangered.  Furthermore, human activities are not allowed here and no disturbances are allowed in these areas. The surroundings of the wildlife habitats are also protected and no disturbances are allowed in these areas too. India has about 543 wildlife sanctuaries that cover an area of 118,918 square kilometres in total. The wildlife sanctuaries aim to protect the natural habitats and the animals dwelling on it. The country has many beautiful sanctuaries which are covered with large rivers, forests and beautiful mountains too.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

In India, there are about 543 wildlife sanctuaries which cover a total of 118,918 square kilometres. Some of the prominent ones are:

1. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka: A protected area as well as a tiger reserve, it is located 23 kilometres south of Bhadravathi and 38 kilometres Northwest of Chikmagalur in Karnataka. It was first declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1951 by the Government of Mysore. It was then declared as a Project Tiger Reserve in 1998. It is a hotspot of biological diversity consisting of about 120 plant species and a number of wild animals including wild boar, elephants, black leopard, sambar, jackals and many birds.  

2. Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary: It is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Gujarat in an area known as Talala Gir. The sanctuary is also known as Sasan Gir. It was established in the year 1965 and consists of a total area of 1,412 square kilometres. More than 400 species of plants have been recorded here along with a count of 2,375 distinct species of animals and birds. This wildlife sanctuary mainly aims at the preservation and increase in population of the Asian Lion which is an endangered species.

3. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala: This Sanctuary is located 18 kilometres north of Marayoor, in the Devikulam taluk of the Idukki district of Kerala. It is one among the twelve wildlife sanctuaries in the protected areas of the state. It is the only rehabilitation centre in India for the Indian Star Tortoise. There are about 600 species of animals and birds along with about 963 species of flowering plants.

4. Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary: It was set up in the year 1915 in Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal and covers an area of 38.6 square kilometres. It is a habitat for animals like a jungle cats, Assam macaque, Rhesus monkeys, Himalayan flying squirrel, Indian leopards and is also rich in birdlife.

5. Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary: This wildlife sanctuary is located in the Sivasagar district of Assam and occupies about 33.93 square kilometres. It was mainly established as a Bird Sanctuary in the year 1999. The Brahmaputra river and the Disang river border it in the northwest and south respectively. Birds from about 267 different species can be found here. About 70 species of migratory birds have also been seen and identified here. Some of the commonly seen birds are a bar-headed goose, spot-billed ducks, ferruginous duck, white-necked stork and red-crested pochard. Rare birds like the white-rumped vultures and griffins have been seen at the sanctuary. This sanctuary is a paradise for bird watchers and a lot of people have been seen visiting this sanctuary.

Other Wildlife Sanctuaries worth mentioning are the Chilika Bird Sanctuary, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Importance of Wildlife Sanctuaries

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1. Help in Preserving Wildlife: Most of the time it is difficult to protect endangered animals by relocating them as it is tedious and very costly and hence, these animals are protected in their natural environment where they can be monitored and can reproduce and grow in number while being under strict protection of the sanctuary. Biologists and other researchers can also study these animals behaviours and traits by visiting these sanctuaries. And as they are in their natural habitat, they are free to roam and move around without being constrained in a cage. 

2. Help in Protection of Landscapes: Forests are disappearing. There was a time when all we could see around us was trees, and now all we see are buildings. These forests have been cut down to make way for villages, towns and cities. But in these sanctuaries, as it is protected land these forests cannot be cut down, they are preserved and allowed to grow without any barriers. This also helps preserve landforms like hills and mountains, rivers, valleys and waterfalls. As they are protected, they are safe from destruction, development and pollution.

3. Help in Preserving Culture and History: The forests these sanctuaries occupy are also home to some tribes that have made it their habitat since ages long gone. Tribes like the Saara adivasis in Odisha also play a role in conserving the forests that they live in. By establishing these sanctuaries, the tribes living there are protected as well as they do not have to fight against developers who would otherwise tear down the forest. This also helps in preserving their culture and habits.

4. Protection of Endangered Species: Numerous species of plants and animals are on the brink of extinction because of the habits and needs of us humans. Sanctuaries provide us with a safe space where human activities do not interfere with nature and where nature can grow free from human intervention. 

5. Conservation of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is the wealth of habitats, ecosystems and diversity of species on the planet and this number has been waning because of human activities. As already mentioned, sanctuaries help in conserving all the biodiversity over an area as it keeps this area free from humans and their activities which could be detrimental to the ecosystem. It is also a type of conservation known as in-situ conservation where the ecosystem is conserved in their natural state and form. 

6. Ecotourism: In wildlife sanctuaries, people are not allowed to go unescorted, that is without a certified guide. Ecotourism is the tourism of ecologically interesting areas to support the conservation of wildlife and observe the wildlife. Here the general public has access to see animals in their natural habitat free of the cages. They get to see animals in their herds, with their young ones and without any fear for their safety. One of the major benefits of ecotourism is that money can be raised by the fees collected for entering the sanctuary. This money can be used in turn to develop the sanctuary.

7. Education and Public Use: The general public is not educated enough about sanctuaries and the benefits they have. But nowadays more and more people are getting educated on sanctuaries and are part of committees that help in uptake of sanctuaries. Celebrities as well help in creating awareness by adopting animals and creating charities on behalf of sanctuaries not only in India but all around the world.

Conclusion

Wildlife sanctuaries are a country’s natural wealth and they come with a host of different advantages both to mankind and the environment, and thus they need to be protected at all costs.