Looking to visit the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of India? Read on to find a good Indian national park or wildlife sanctuary …
A great deal of effort has been made in creating national parks and sanctuaries for the conservation of wildlife across India. The country is home to approximately 70% of the world’s biodiversity prevalent in marine life, land animals and birds.
The national network for conservation of wildlife was established during 1970 with the creation of the national policy governing the protection and conservation of endangered species in India.
This was further strengthened by the Wildlife Protection Act established two years later and led to the creation and sustenance of up to 60 sanctuaries and over 410 parks. These areas are critical in managing and conserving the population of wildlife across India by providing a natural habitat essential for their survival.
These national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are found throughout the Indian landscape from the mountain tops to the plateaus. With the coordination and assistance received from the World Wildlife Federation, programs like crocodile breeding and population management programs, along with the tiger conservation project have strengthened this network immensely.
Protected Wildlife Sanctuaries and Parks across India
The region of Western Ghats on the western border of India is home to one of the largest tropical evergreen forests in this region. Unfortunately, timber extraction has resulted in deforestation to a large extent and there was an increasing threat which made conservation activities essential.
This area is home to 7 national parks and over 39 sanctuaries for endangered species and covers around 10% of the overall area in the country established for wildlife conservation.
There is a mixed influx of human habitation in these areas. While some reserves are completely cut off and secluded, others are surrounded by commercial plantations and estates which manage the extraction of different natural resources without encroaching on the reserves.
International Agreements on Preserving Natural Habitats in India
India works in agreement with international organizations to help protect the natural habitat and concentrate on sustainable development. In order to protect the natural and endemic heritage, they have entered into agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which limits hunting and trade of exotic animals.
Further by signing the World Heritage Convention, five natural habitats in India have been declared areas of outstanding universal value which include the Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, along with the Sundarbans National Park and Keoladeo National Park.
Apart from this, India is also part of the Convention on Biological Diversity which creates the groundwork for conservation of the country’s natural resources. The Ramsar Wetlands Convention covers six areas surrounding the lake which preserves 192,973 hectares of critical wetlands.
Wildlife Protected In the National Parks and Sanctuaries in India
India is home to some of the most spectacular ecosystems on the globe. This country has an amazing biodiversity and endemic population of flora, fauna, avian, aquatic and mammal population. It is no wonder then that the entire world has an interest in conserving the natural resources and habitat across the country!
Some of the spectacular animals found across the landscape include the Asiatic Lion, Spotted and Sambar deer, Hyena, Fox, the Lesser Florican and the Houbara bustard.
