Wildlife Sanctuaries: List of Most Famous Sanctuaries, Importance, Steps to Protect

What is a Wildlife Sanctuary Overview

A wildlife sanctuary is a place where animals' habitats and surroundings are safeguarded from harm. Animal capture, slaughter, and poaching are all severely forbidden in certain areas. They want to provide the animals with a nice place to live. With lush woods, vast rivers, and high, gorgeous mountains, India boasts amazing wildlife sanctuaries.

What is a Wildlife Sanctuary?

A wildlife sanctuary is an area where birds and animals are protected and preserved safely in their native habitats, safe from criminal activities such as poaching and trafficking. A wildlife sanctuary is sometimes known as a natural reserve, a biosphere reserve, or a conservation area. These are directly regulated by the government and are also privately held by charitable organizations and research institutes. There are strong bans against killing, poaching, or capturing the birds and animals that live in these regions. 

There are around 543 wildlife sanctuaries in India, covering a total area of 118,918 square kilometers. The goal of wildlife sanctuaries is to safeguard natural environments and the species that live in them.

History of Wildlife Sanctuaries

In 1872, India built the world's first wildlife refuge. The sanctuary was created to safeguard elephants being poached for their ivory. The United States established the world's first national park in 1878. The park was created to safeguard the Yellowstone Geyser Basin. There are currently over 1,600 animal sanctuaries and national parks worldwide. The Indian Wildlife Board was established in 1952 to centralize all laws and regulations governing wildlife protection in India, which had previously been passed down from state to state. This Board issued a corner decree in 1956, granting all Game Parks the title of Sanctuary or National Park.

India's wildlife sanctuaries are classed as IUCN Category IV protected areas. As of December 2020, India had 553 wildlife sanctuaries totaling 119,776 square kilometers.

List of Most Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

The following are the most significant, according to the Wildlife Board of India-

Importance of Wildlife Sanctuary

There are several motivations for creating animal sanctuaries. The importance of wildlife sanctuaries is as follows-

Landscapes are Preserved

Animals are not the only species on the edge of extinction. Mountains, hill forests, dunes, and plains are all in peril because humans are continuously destroying them for personal gain. Several landscapes are also in high danger of pollution. As a result, when they are kept under the designation of a wildlife sanctuary, they are better preserved. Wildlife sanctuaries' landscapes are well-protected from urbanization, pollution, and devastation.

History and Culture Preservation

Wildlife sanctuaries are frequently cultural hotspots. These sanctuaries are peppered with various buildings that help us understand how these regions were founded in the first place, in addition to flora and animals. As a result, they have enormous historical and cultural value.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is highly involved in wildlife sanctuaries all over the world. As a result, many indigenous people and tribes now have greater access to jobs and economic growth. Tourists visit these locations for nature hikes and a variety of other activities.

Wildlife is Protected

Several animal species are on the verge of extinction due to the fast disappearance of their major natural behaviors. Wildlife sanctuaries efficiently conserve these environments, providing animals with a safe place to mate and survive. More creatures are at risk of extinction if these sanctuaries do not exist. In some ways, these sanctuaries provide the scenery that wild animals require. They also help to preserve these species throughout time.

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List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

There are around 543 wildlife sanctuaries in India, totaling 118,918 square kilometers. Among the most notable are as follows-

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Steps taken for the Protection of Wildlife Sanctuary

The following are some of the steps taken by the WPA-

1. The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, as amended in 2006, criminalizes harm to animals and advocates for strong penalties for animal hunting or poaching.
2. Both state and federal governments have been influential in establishing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to safeguard animals from mistreatment.
3. Various programs undertaken by the Indian government, such as Project Tiger in 1972 and Project Elephant in 1992, have been highly successful in protecting these two creatures.
4. The Wetland (Conservation and Management) 2010 Rules have been suggested to conserve India's wetlands. 
5. Another plan has been launched by the federal government to protect the aquatic ecosystem, which offers aid to various states in order to conserve the wetlands.
6. Another significant move made by the Indian government to combat the international illicit traffic in animal skins and organs was the founding of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
7. The Bombay Natural History Society, founded in 1883, is currently actively interested in wildlife preservation and study.
8. In Tamil Nadu, an ornithological institution named after Dr. Salim Ali conducts extensive studies on bird movement and habitats.
9. State governments in India have also underlined the importance of increasing field formations and patrolling around animal preservation sites.
10. The National Tiger Conservation Authority was founded in December 2005 to give fresh life to the Tiger project in India, protecting the declining population of tigers and their ecology.

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Measures Taken to Protect Wildlife Sanctuary

The Indian government has adopted constitutional measures to conserve wildlife. The Indian government, in exercising its constitutional responsibilities, enacted many statutes to safeguard wildlife in India. Here are a few examples:

1. Biological Diversity Act 2002
2. Environment Protection Act 1986
3. Forest Conservation Act 1980
4. Mines and Mineral Regulatory Act 1957 
5. Prevention to Cruelty to Animals 1960

Wildlife Sanctuaries Rule Book 

There has been a concerted effort to strictly enforce the regulations governing wildlife sanctuaries in order to dissuade miscreants and criminals from engaging in unlawful activities. Other, more powerful animals frequently attempt to attack the species housed in the sanctuaries. The following guidelines assist law enforcement officers in protecting animals from harm-

1. Animal hunting in any form is illegal.
2. Many initiatives have been developed to maintain and manage animal habitats.
3. The Indian Government has worked hard to explain precisely what is permissible and what is not under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and with the 2006 modification, the penalties for unlawful actions were made harsher to discourage offenders.
4. The trade of animal body parts is now strictly prohibited.
5. Inside the sanctuaries, organized tourism activities are prohibited.
6. Civilians have been prevented from accessing the sanctuaries alone.

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Advantages of Wildlife Sanctuary

These wildlife sanctuaries have several advantages, which are as follows-

1. They contribute to environmental conservation.
2. They aid in the reproduction of numerous animal species.
3. They offer animals refuge.
4. These sanctuaries aid in the protection of many animal species.
5. They contribute to the preservation of ecological equilibrium.
6. They contribute to public education and knowledge of animals.

Difference Between Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks

The following table differentiates between wildlife sanctuaries and national parks-