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Wildlife Sanctuaries — Legal Framework
WPA 1972 Chapter IV · IUCN Category IV · Less strict than NPs · Regulated human activities allowed
💡 WLS vs National Park: A Hospital vs ICU Analogy
A National Park is like an ICU — no human activity permitted, complete isolation, maximum protection. A Wildlife Sanctuary is like a general hospital ward — some activities allowed under medical supervision, community activities continue with regulated oversight. Both protect species, but Wildlife Sanctuaries accommodate the reality that humans already live in and around these areas — they balance conservation with human use more flexibly than National Parks.
Wildlife Sanctuary — Key Legal Facts
- Legal authority: Declared under Chapter IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Section 26A) | Both Central and State Governments can declare
- IUCN classification: IUCN Category IV Protected Areas — managed primarily for habitat/species protection with some human use
- Key difference from NP: WLS allows regulated human activities — limited grazing, collection of non-timber forest produce (NTFP), some settlements. NPs strictly prohibit all such activities.
- Private land: Private ownership of land CAN exist within a Wildlife Sanctuary. In a National Park, all private land must be acquired by the government.
- Boundary change: Alteration of WLS boundaries requires recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). NP boundaries require State Legislature approval — a stricter requirement.
- Managing authority: Chief Wildlife Warden of the state controls and manages Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Prohibited activities (without permit): Destroy, remove, or exploit wildlife or forest produce | Damage or alter natural habitat | Divert or stop water flow into/out of sanctuary
- Permit system: Activities can be allowed with a permit from Chief Wildlife Warden ONLY IF the State Government (in consultation with Wildlife Board) is convinced the action is essential for improving/promoting wildlife
- Upgrading: A Wildlife Sanctuary CAN be upgraded to a National Park (example: Keoladeo Ghana WLS → Keoladeo Ghana NP/Bharatpur). Cannot be downgraded.
National Park vs Wildlife Sanctuary — Comparison Table
| Feature | National Park (NP) | Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal authority | WPA Section 35 | WPA Chapter IV (Section 26A) |
| IUCN Category | Category II | Category IV |
| Human activity | Strictly prohibited | Regulated activities allowed |
| Private land inside | Must be acquired | Can exist within WLS |
| Boundary change | State Legislature approval needed | NBWL recommendation needed |
| Grazing/NTFP collection | Prohibited | Permitted under CWW permit |
| Managing authority | Chief Wildlife Warden | Chief Wildlife Warden |
| Declared by | Central or State Govt | Central or State Govt |
| India count (2025) | 107 | 573 |
| Area covered | 44,402 sq km (1.35%) | 1,23,762 sq km (3.76%) |
| Examples | Jim Corbett, Gir, Kaziranga | Gahirmatha, Sariska (before TR), Periyar (before NP), Tal Chhapar |
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India’s Complete Protected Area Network
1,014 Protected Areas covering 1,75,169 sq km = 5.32% of India’s geographical area
National Parks
107
44,402.95 sq km | 1.35% of India | IUCN Cat II | Strictest protection | WPA Section 35
Wildlife Sanctuaries
573
1,23,762.56 sq km | 3.76% of India | IUCN Cat IV | Regulated activities | WPA Chapter IV
Conservation Reserves
115
Community participation in management | State Govt declares | Buffer zones between PAs | Moderate protection level
Community Reserves
220
Declared by State Govt on community/private land | Community volunteers to conserve | Lightest legal protection | People-centred conservation
Protected Area Network — UPSC-Critical Numbers (Nov 2023 official data)
- Total PAs: 1,014 | Combined area: 1,75,169.42 sq km | ~5.32% of India’s geographical area
- Composition: 107 NPs + 573 WLS + 115 Conservation Reserves + 220 Community Reserves
- Union Territory with most WLS: Andaman & Nicobar Islands — 97 WLS (highest in any state/UT)
- Budget 2025-26: ₹450 crore allocated for Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats | ₹290 crore for Project Tiger+Elephant (18% increase over 2024-25 revised estimates)
- 33 Elephant Reserves: Covering 80,778 sq km | Established under Project Elephant | Some overlap with WLS and Tiger Reserves
- 218 proposed WLS: Per Protected Area Network Report — covering 16,829 sq km additional area proposed for future WLS designation
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Wildlife Sanctuary Superlatives — Critical for UPSC Prelims
Largest, Smallest, Oldest, Most WLS per state — learn these first
Largest WLS
Kutch Desert WLS
Gujarat | Great Rann of Kutch | 7,506.22 sq km | Est. 1986 | Chinkara, Flamingo, Indian Wild Ass (adj.) | India’s largest saline desert ecosystem
Smallest WLS
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary
Gujarat | Only 2.0 sq km | Established to protect Great Indian Bustard + Lesser Florican | Tiny but ecologically important for CR species
First Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthangal BS
Tamil Nadu | Community protected since 1796 | Formally established 1936 | Oldest bird sanctuary in India | 40,000+ migratory birds each season
Most WLS per State/UT
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
97 Wildlife Sanctuaries — highest in any state/UT | Rich island biodiversity | Leatherback turtles, Nicobar megapode, saltwater crocodiles
Largest Marine WLS
Gahirmatha Marine WLS
Odisha | 1,435 sq km | World’s largest Olive Ridley turtle nesting beach | Declared 1997 | Between Dhamra R. (N) and Brahmani R. (S)
More Important Superlatives & Distinctions
- Largest bird sanctuary in India: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana NP) — also a UNESCO WHC | 29 sq km | Rajasthan
- Second largest bird sanctuary: Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary — spans AP + Tamil Nadu | India’s second largest brackish water lagoon
- Only marine sanctuary in Odisha: Gahirmatha Marine WLS (1997)
- India’s first Ramsar Site: Chilika Lake (Odisha, 1981) — also has Nalbana Bird Sanctuary within it (core WLS)
- Largest coastal lagoon in India: Chilika Lake, Odisha (~1,100 sq km) | Largest brackish water lagoon in Asia | India’s first Ramsar site
- Only WLS with Asiatic Wild Ass: Little Rann of Kutch (Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary), Gujarat — world’s only natural habitat
- Only WLS in India with all 3 crocodile species: Bhitarkanika WLS, Odisha — Mugger, Saltwater (largest), Gharial (in adjacent rivers)
- Best wintering ground for migratory birds: Chilika Lake — birds from Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea arrive in winter
- Lungs of Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali NP) — India’s only NP within a megacity | Also has leopards — human-leopard conflict ongoing
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Important Bird Sanctuaries — Detailed Profiles
India has ~72 dedicated bird sanctuaries (BNHS data) · All migratory bird hotspots
Keoladeo Ghana NP (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)
UNESCO WHC 1985Ramsar Site
🌊 History
- Originally a maharaja’s duck hunting reserve (Bharatpur maharajas used it for royal hunts)
- First declared a WLS 1971 | Upgraded to National Park 1982
- UNESCO WHC 1985 — one of India’s first WHC designations
- Named after the Keoladeo (Shiva) temple inside the park | “Ghana” = dense
🦅 Key Species
- 370+ bird species | 85 species of resident birds | Best bird sanctuary in India
- Siberian Crane (critically endangered) — once wintered here but now absent (last seen 2002). Hunting along migration route + habitat loss
- Painted Stork | Sarus Crane | Open-billed Stork | Greater Spotted Eagle
- Large mammals: Sambar, Nilgai, Python, Fishing Cat
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Oldest Bird Sanctuary India
India’s oldest bird sanctuary. Local communities (“cowle” order from British collector in 1796) protected birds here for nearly 200 years before formal establishment. Tiny but historically significant — the birds’ guano fertilised surrounding farms, making locals keen conservationists. The farmers understood that protecting birds protected their crops — a model of traditional ecological knowledge.
Key species: ~40,000 waterbirds each winter season | Open-billed Stork | Painted Stork | Night Heron | Little Cormorant | Spoonbill | Little Egret | Grey Heron | Spot-billed Pelican. All are migratory waterbirds that breed here. Season: November to March (peak migratory season). Location note: Located near Madurantakam, Chengalpattu district — accessible from Chennai.
Key species: ~40,000 waterbirds each winter season | Open-billed Stork | Painted Stork | Night Heron | Little Cormorant | Spoonbill | Little Egret | Grey Heron | Spot-billed Pelican. All are migratory waterbirds that breed here. Season: November to March (peak migratory season). Location note: Located near Madurantakam, Chengalpattu district — accessible from Chennai.
Chilika Lake & Nalbana Bird Sanctuary
Ramsar Site 1981India’s First Ramsar
💧 Chilika Lake Facts
- Largest coastal lagoon in India | Largest brackish water lagoon in Asia
- India’s FIRST Ramsar Wetland (1981)
- Placed on Montreux Record 1993 (ecological degradation) | Removed 2002 after Chilika Development Authority (CDA) restored it
- CDA established 1992, headed by Odisha Chief Minister
- Sustains livelihood of ~200,000 fisherfolk
🦩 Key Species
- Irrawaddy Dolphin (EN) — Only population in India — flagship species of Chilika
- 160+ bird species in peak winter | Largest wintering ground for migratory birds in Indian subcontinent
- Birds from Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, Ladakh | Greater Flamingo | White-bellied Sea Eagle
- Green sea turtle (EN), Dugong (VU), Indian Skimmer
- Nalbana Island: Core sanctuary within Chilika | Gets submerged in monsoon | Critical bird nesting site
Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
Despite its tiny size, Tal Chhapar is famous for two things: (1) Blackbuck — thousands of blackbucks roam the flat grasslands; (2) Demoiselle Crane (Kurja) — thousands of migratory Demoiselle Cranes arrive in winter, fed by local Bishnoi communities who have revered all wildlife for centuries. Tal Chhapar is also excellent for raptors — Short-eared Owl, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier all winter here. One of Rajasthan’s best short day-trip wildlife destinations from Bikaner/Sujangarh. Bishnoi community conservation — a model of traditional ecological knowledge.
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
Ramsar Site
Nal Sarovar is a large freshwater lake sanctuary in Gujarat — one of the best places in India for waterbird watching. Key species: Flamingos (one of largest flamingo congregations in western India) | Greater White Pelican | Bar-headed Goose | Brahminy Duck | Purple Moorhen | Indian Skimmer | Purple Heron. Best visited in winter (November–February). Also an important stopover for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway. Part of the important migratory flyway connecting breeding grounds in Siberia to wintering grounds in South Asia.
Other Important Bird Sanctuaries — Quick Reference
- Pulicat Lake BS (AP + Tamil Nadu): Second largest brackish water lagoon in India | 2nd largest bird sanctuary India | Famous for Greater Flamingo + Spot-billed Pelican | Transboundary (AP + TN)
- Harike Wetland (Punjab): Largest wetland in northern India | Ramsar Site | At confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers | Important for migratory ducks and geese on Central Asian Flyway
- Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary (Haryana): Near Gurgaon/Delhi | Important for migratory birds including rare Lesser White-fronted Goose | National Park status | Easy access from Delhi
- Point Calimere WLS (Tamil Nadu): Flamingo habitat | On the Palk Strait | Great Indian Bustard has been recorded | Important breeding site for waders
- Ranganthittu BS (Karnataka): Island bird sanctuary on Cauvery River near Mysuru | Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork, Little Cormorant, Grey Pelican | Also has Mugger crocodile
- Khijadiya BS (Gujarat): Near Jamnagar | 605+ bird species recorded — one of India’s richest bird sanctuaries | Flamingo, raptors, waders | Ramsar Site (2021)
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Marine Wildlife Sanctuaries
Gahirmatha (Olive Ridley) · Gulf of Mannar (Dugong) · Gulf of Kutch (First Marine NP) · Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP
Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary
World’s Largest Olive Ridley Rookery
🐢 Olive Ridley Turtles
- World’s largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea, VU)
- Famous for ARRIBADA — mass simultaneous nesting event. 500,000–600,000 female turtles nest over 5–7 days in Jan/Feb. Spectacular natural phenomenon.
- Turtles travel from Pacific Ocean (thousands of km) to nest here
- Each female lays 100–140 eggs | ~2 million hatchlings emerge 45–65 days later
- Located within Bhitarkanika NP vicinity (adjacent to Bhitarkanika WLS)
🌊 Key Details
- Extends from Dhamra River (north) to Brahmani River (south)
- Nesting season: November–April | Peak nesting: January–February
- Threats: Mechanised fishing trawlers (bycatch, net entanglement), light pollution disorienting hatchlings, sand mining
- Also has: Saltwater Crocodile, dolphins, diverse marine life
- Two other mass nesting sites in Odisha: Rushikulya and Devi mouth
Other Important Marine Sanctuaries
- Gulf of Mannar Marine NP (Tamil Nadu): India’s first Biosphere Reserve for marine ecosystem | Dugong (VU) Conservation Reserve designated within this area | 21 islands + coral reefs + seagrass beds | Dugong feeds on seagrass — “sea cow” | Also: sea turtles, dolphins, seahorses | Part of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
- Gulf of Kutch Marine NP (Gujarat): India’s FIRST Marine National Park (1982) | Coral reefs, mangroves, intertidal zones | Flamingos winter here | Dugong found in adjoining waters | Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary nearby (Little Rann of Kutch)
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP (Andaman & Nicobar): Near Port Blair | 15 islands including Wandoor | Coral reefs, mangroves, sea turtles | Saltwater crocodile | Part of the Andaman island biodiversity complex
- Lakshadweep: Numerous marine protected areas around the atolls | Coral reefs (India’s largest atoll reef system) | Hawksbill and Green turtles | Spinner dolphins | Blue whale passes through
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Key Mammal Wildlife Sanctuaries
Sariska · Little Rann · Periyar · Bhitarkanika · Mudumalai · Velavadar Blackbuck · Anamalai
Key Mammal Sanctuaries — Essential UPSC Profiles
- Sariska Tiger Reserve / WLS (Rajasthan): Alwar district | Aravalli Hills | Originally a WLS; also a TR. Famous as the site of India’s FIRST tiger reintroduction (2008) after all tigers were poached (discovered 2004-05). By 2024: ~30 tigers, successful recovery. Leopard, Nilgai, Sambar, Hyena, Indian Peafowl (abundant). Ancient temples (Neelkanth, Pandupol) inside.
- Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary / Little Rann of Kutch (Gujarat): ~5,000 sq km | World’s ONLY habitat for Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) — “Ghudkhur” in local language. Population recovered from ~360 (1969) to 5,000+ today — one of India’s conservation success stories. Also: Flamingo, Chinkara, Wolf, Hyena. Little Rann of Kutch ecosystem — unique seasonal salt flat.
- Periyar WLS (Kerala): Thekkady, Idukki district | 925 sq km | Core area of Periyar Tiger Reserve | Famous Periyar Lake (reservoir) — boat safaris to see elephants at the water’s edge. Established 1950 (wildlife reserve). Best for Asian Elephants (500+) | Also: Tiger, Leopard, Sambar, Gaur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur | Part of Western Ghats UNESCO cluster.
- Bhitarkanika WLS (Odisha): Kendrapara district | 672 sq km | World’s SECOND largest mangrove ecosystem after Sundarbans | India’s SECOND largest mangrove area. Famous for Saltwater Crocodile (largest reptile in world) — largest population in India. Also: Indian Python, King Cobra, Water Monitor, Spot-billed Pelican, Irrawaddy Dolphin. River Terrapin (Batagur baska) — CR freshwater turtle. Part of Bhitarkanika NP+WLS complex. Ramsar Site 2002.
- Mudumalai WLS / TR (Tamil Nadu): Nilgiri district | Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | Part of the tri-state Nilgiri landscape (Karnataka+Kerala+TN). Famous for Asian Elephants + Tiger + Leopard + Dhole + Gaur | Critical elephant corridor in the Nilgiris. Biodiversity connection: Connects Bandipur (Karnataka) and Wayanad (Kerala). Best for elephant herds and leopard sightings.
- Velavadar Blackbuck NP (Gujarat): Bhavnagar district | 34 sq km | Dedicated to Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) — one of India’s fastest animals (80 km/h). Thousands of Blackbucks + Wolves + Nilgai + Harriers (winter migrants). Coastal grassland ecosystem. Note: National Park despite small size — unusual WLS→NP conversion.
- Anamalai/Indira Gandhi WLS (Tamil Nadu): Pollachi area, Coimbatore district | ~845 sq km | Western Ghats | Famous for Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Giant Squirrel | Part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve | Critical habitat for endemic species. Also has Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Dhole. UNESCO Western Ghats cluster.
- Dibru-Saikhowa NP/WLS (Assam): Dibrugarh + Tinsukia districts | On the south bank of Brahmaputra | Famous for feral horses — descendants of horses that escaped during British times and adapted to island life | Also: Wild Buffalo, Bengal Florican, Fishing Cat, Gangetic Dolphin | Biodiversity-rich NE India.
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State-Wise Important Wildlife Sanctuaries
UPSC most frequently asked WLS by state — memorise key species for each
| State / UT | Key Wildlife Sanctuaries | Notable Feature / Key Species |
|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan | Keoladeo Ghana (UNESCO WHC) | Sariska TR | Tal Chhapar | Desert NP (acts as WLS) | Ranthambore (before NP) | Migratory birds (Keoladeo) | Tiger reintroduction (Sariska) | Blackbuck+Demoiselle Crane (Tal Chhapar) | GIB (Desert NP) |
| Gujarat | Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary (Little Rann of Kutch) | Kutch Desert WLS (largest) | Kutch Bustard (smallest) | Velavadar Blackbuck NP | Nal Sarovar BS | Khijadiya BS | Gulf of Kutch Marine NP | Indian Wild Ass (only habitat) | Flamingo | GIB | Blackbuck | First Marine NP (Gulf of Kutch) |
| Odisha | Gahirmatha Marine WLS | Bhitarkanika WLS | Chilika (Nalbana BS) | Satkosia GWS | Similipal TR (also NP) | Olive Ridley (world’s largest rookery) | Saltwater Crocodile | Irrawaddy Dolphin | Gharial (Satkosia) |
| Assam | Kaziranga WLS+NP | Manas WLS+NP | Dibru-Saikhowa | Nameri | Pobitora | Chakrashila | One-horned Rhino | Wild Buffalo | Feral Horses (Dibru-Saikhowa) | Hoolock Gibbon (Chakrashila) |
| Tamil Nadu | Vedanthangal BS | Mudumalai WLS | Anamalai (IGTR) | Pulicat Lake BS | Point Calimere | Grizzled Squirrel WLS | Oldest bird sanctuary (Vedanthangal) | Elephants+Tiger (Mudumalai) | Grizzled Giant Squirrel (only TR in world for it) |
| Kerala | Periyar WLS | Chinnar WLS | Wayanad WLS | Parambikulam WLS | Elephants (Periyar) | Grizzled Squirrel + Defassa Waterbuck (Chinnar) | Tiger + Gaur (Wayanad) |
| Karnataka | Bandipur NP/TR | Nagarhole TR | Bannerghatta BS | Bhadra TR | Cauvery WLS | Dandeli Anshi TR | Tiger + Elephant + Gaur | Bannerghatta near Bengaluru (rescue centre) | Sloth Bear (Cauvery) |
| Uttarakhand | Corbett TR | Rajaji TR | Govind WLS | Kedarnath WLS | Sonanadi WLS | Tiger (Corbett, 231) | Elephant + Tiger (Rajaji) | Snow Leopard + Himalayan species (Kedarnath) |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans TR+NP | Jaldapara WLS | Gorumara WLS | Buxa TR | Chapramari WLS | Mangrove Tiger | One-horned Rhino (Jaldapara) | Red Panda + Gaur (Gorumara) |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Namdapha TR+NP | Pakke TR | Kamlang TR | D’Ering Memorial WLS | Mehao WLS | Namdapha Flying Squirrel | All 4 big cats (Namdapha) | River dolphins (D’Ering) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha TR | Bandhavgarh TR | Pench TR | Panna TR | Ratapani TR | Satpura TR | Tiger + Hard-ground Barasingha (Kanha) | Highest tiger density (Bandhavgarh) | Panna: tiger reintroduction success |
| Andhra Pradesh + Telangana | Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam TR | Rollapadu WLS | Papikonda NP | KBR NP | Largest TR (Nagarjunsagar) | Great Indian Bustard (Rollapadu — one of few GIB sites) |
| Manipur | Keibul Lamjao NP | Yangoupokpi-Lokchao WLS | Sangai/Eld’s Deer (floating NP) | Brown-antlered deer + gibbon (Yangoupokpi) |
| Haryana | Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary (NP) | Kalesar WLS | Nahar WLS | Migratory birds near Delhi | Elephants (Kalesar) | Blackbuck (Nahar) |
| Punjab | Harike Wetland WLS + Ramsar Site | Largest wetland in N India | Migratory birds on Central Asian Flyway | At Beas+Sutlej confluence |
| A&N Islands | Gahirmatha adjacent | Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP | 97 WLS total | Most WLS in any UT/state | Leatherback turtle | Nicobar megapode | Saltwater Crocodile |
| Himachal Pradesh | Great Himalayan NP (UNESCO WHC) | Pin Valley NP | Kibber WLS | Kugti WLS | Renuka WLS | Snow Leopard | Western Tragopan | High altitude species | Renuka Lake (sacred) |
| J&K + Ladakh | Dachigam NP | Hemis NP (largest) | Karakoram WLS | Wular Conservation Reserve | Hangul/Kashmir Stag (Dachigam) | Snow Leopard (Hemis) | Tibetan Antelope (Karakoram) |
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Current Affairs 2024–2025 — Conservation Milestones
IBCA treaty Jan 2025 · World Wildlife Day 2025 · Riverine dolphin estimation · AI for wildlife
🔴 International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) — Treaty-Based Organisation, Jan 23, 2025 Latest
- Established: January 23, 2025 — IBCA officially became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation
- Countries ratified: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, Liberia ratified the agreement | Total: 27 countries onboard
- Headquarters: India
- Launched originally: April 9, 2023 by PM Narendra Modi at the 50 Years of Project Tiger event in Mysuru, Karnataka
- Union Cabinet approval: February 2024 | Founded by NTCA under MoEFCC on March 12, 2024
- Focus: Conservation of 7 big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma
- Objective: Drive global big cat conservation through cross-border collaboration | Establish central fund and technical hub for research and conservation | Enhance collaboration among governments, conservationists, and NGOs
- UPSC relevance: India as global wildlife conservation leader | Related to Project Big Cat (2023), Project Tiger (1973), and India’s 75% share of world’s wild tigers
🔴 World Wildlife Day 2025 — Key Announcements (March 3, 2025) Current Affairs
- Theme 2025: “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”
- India’s first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report: Released on World Wildlife Day 2025. Covers 28 rivers across 8 states. Key step toward understanding and protecting India’s freshwater dolphins (Gangetic + Irrawaddy).
- National Referral Centre for Wildlife: Foundation stone laid at Junagadh (Gujarat) — to enhance coordination in wildlife health management. Will provide specialised medical care and research for wildlife across India.
- Centre of Excellence (CoE) on HWC: Established at Wildlife Institute of India (WII) — SACON (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History), Coimbatore | Focus: Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) research and mitigation
- Rapid Response Teams: Deployment with advanced tracking technology, surveillance systems, and AI-driven intrusion detection for anti-poaching
- AI + ML for conservation: Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for wildlife conservation and conflict mitigation | Collaboration: Forest Survey of India (Dehradun) + BISAG-N for forest fire prediction using space technology
- NBWL 7th meeting (Gir NP, 2025): PM Modi chaired the 7th meeting of National Board for Wildlife at Gir NP, Gujarat | Reviewed: Protected area expansion, Project Tiger + Elephant + Snow Leopard | Discussed: Dolphin + Asiatic Lion conservation | International Big Cat Alliance updates
Other Key Wildlife Conservation Current Affairs 2024–25
- Budget 2025-26: ₹450 crore for Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats | ₹290 crore (64% of total) for Project Tiger + Elephant — 18% increase from 2024-25 revised estimates. Shows growing financial commitment to wildlife conservation.
- Project Dolphin 2020: Ongoing riverine dolphin conservation | 2025: First nationwide dolphin estimation survey across 28 rivers
- Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (Bihar): India’s only dedicated dolphin sanctuary | On Ganga between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon | ~60 km stretch | Best population of Gangetic dolphins in India
- Dugong Conservation Reserve (Gulf of Mannar, TN): India’s only marine conservation area dedicated to Dugong. Part of efforts to protect India’s only dugong habitat in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
- Project Snow Leopard: India has ~718 snow leopards (Snow Leopard Population Assessment 2019 — first rigorous estimate) | SECURE Himalaya programme (UNDP+GEF) supports conservation. Satellite collaring underway (2024) to track movements in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
- Grassland species crisis: State of India’s Birds 2023 (SoIB 2023) report: Grassland birds are the fastest-declining group of birds in India. 80+ grassland species showing long-term declines. Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican — all critically threatened. Grassland loss from agricultural conversion, afforestation on grasslands, and wildlife management (paradoxically, afforestation programmes turn grasslands into forests) are cited as main threats.
⭐ Wildlife Sanctuaries of India — Complete Cheat Sheet
- WLS legal basis: Chapter IV, WPA 1972 (Section 26A) | Both Central + State Govts | IUCN Category IV | Chief Wildlife Warden manages
- WLS vs NP key differences: WLS: regulated human activities allowed, private land inside, boundary change needs NBWL recommendation | NP: no human activity, no private land, boundary change needs State Legislature
- WLS numbers 2025: 573 WLS | 1,23,762.56 sq km | 3.76% of India’s land
- Total PA network (Nov 2023): 1,014 PAs | 1,75,169 sq km | 5.32% | 107 NPs + 573 WLS + 115 CRs + 220 Community Reserves
- Largest WLS: Kutch Desert WLS (Gujarat, 7,506 sq km, Great Rann of Kutch, 1986)
- Smallest WLS: Kutch Bustard Sanctuary (Gujarat, 2 sq km, GIB + Lesser Florican)
- First bird sanctuary: Vedanthangal BS (Tamil Nadu, community protected 1796, formally 1936, Chengalpattu, near Chennai)
- Most WLS in a state/UT: Andaman & Nicobar Islands (97 WLS)
- Largest marine WLS: Gahirmatha Marine WLS (Odisha, 1,435 sq km, 1997, Olive Ridley, Dhamra River north to Brahmani south)
- 33 Elephant Reserves: 80,778 sq km | Project Elephant | Some overlap with TRs and WLS
- Keoladeo Ghana NP: Rajasthan (Bharatpur) | UNESCO WHC 1985 + Ramsar | 370+ birds | Siberian Crane (absent since 2002) | Originally maharaja’s hunting reserve
- Vedanthangal BS: TN | Oldest bird sanctuary India | Community cowle 1796 | 40,000+ birds/season | Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork | Traditional conservation model
- Chilika Lake: Odisha | India’s FIRST Ramsar Site (1981) | Largest coastal lagoon India + largest brackish water lagoon Asia | Irrawaddy Dolphin (only in India) | Nalbana BS = core WLS inside Chilika | Montreux Record 1993→2002 (restored by CDA)
- Gahirmatha Marine WLS: Odisha (1997) | World’s largest Olive Ridley rookery | ARRIBADA = mass nesting (600,000 turtles) | Between Dhamra (N) and Brahmani (S) rivers | Adjacent to Bhitarkanika NP
- Tal Chhapar WLS: Rajasthan (Churu) | Tiny (~7 sq km) | Blackbuck + Demoiselle Crane (Kurja) + raptors | Bishnoi community conservation model
- Little Rann of Kutch (Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary): Gujarat | World’s ONLY natural habitat of Indian Wild Ass (Ghudkhur) | 5,000+ individuals | Recovered from 360 in 1969
- Periyar WLS: Kerala (Thekkady, Idukki) | 925 sq km | Periyar Tiger Reserve core | Periyar Lake boat safari for elephants | 500+ elephants | Part of W. Ghats UNESCO cluster
- Bhitarkanika WLS: Odisha | Second largest mangroves India | Saltwater Crocodile (largest reptile, largest India population) | River Terrapin (CR) | Ramsar 2002
- IBCA 2025: International Big Cat Alliance | Treaty-based intergovernmental org: January 23, 2025 | 27 countries | HQ: India | PM Modi launched April 9, 2023 (50 yr Project Tiger, Mysuru) | 7 big cats: Tiger+Lion+Leopard+Snow Leopard+Cheetah+Jaguar+Puma | NTCA under MoEFCC established it March 2024
- World Wildlife Day 2025 (March 3): Theme: “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet” | First riverine dolphin estimation (28 rivers, 8 states) | National Referral Centre Wildlife = Junagadh Gujarat | CoE on HWC at WII-SACON Coimbatore | AI+ML for wildlife | NBWL 7th meeting at Gir NP (PM chaired)
- Gulf of Mannar: TN | Dugong Conservation Reserve (India’s only) | Dugong feeds on seagrass | Also: sea turtles, seahorses, coral reefs | Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
- Harike Wetland: Punjab | Largest wetland in northern India | Ramsar | Beas+Sutlej confluence | Central Asian Flyway migratory birds
- Rollapadu WLS: Andhra Pradesh | One of very few remaining GIB habitats outside Rajasthan | Great Indian Bustard + Lesser Florican
- Velavadar Blackbuck NP: Gujarat (Bhavnagar) | 34 sq km | Thousands of Blackbucks | Indian Wolf | Raptors | Coastal grassland
🧪 Practice MCQs
Q1. Consider the following pairs — Wildlife Sanctuary / Special Feature:
1. Gahirmatha Marine WLS — World’s largest Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting beach
2. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary — India’s oldest bird sanctuary, established in 1936 with community conservation since 1796
3. Little Rann of Kutch — World’s only natural habitat for Indian Wild Ass
4. Chilika Lake (Nalbana BS) — India’s FIRST Ramsar Site; only Indian habitat for Irrawaddy Dolphin
Select ALL correctly matched pairs:
✅ Answer: (d) All four are correctly matched
1 ✅ Gahirmatha: Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, Odisha, is indeed the world’s largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley sea turtles. Declared a sanctuary in 1997. Famous for the “arribada” (mass nesting) when 500,000–600,000 female turtles nest over 5–7 days in January-February. Extends from the Dhamra River (north) to the Brahmani River (south). Adjacent to Bhitarkanika NP. 2 ✅ Vedanthangal: Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, is India’s oldest bird sanctuary. Local communities obtained a “cowle” (protective order) from the British collector in 1796, making it one of the world’s earliest community-conservation examples. It was formally established as a sanctuary in 1936. Attracts ~40,000 migratory waterbirds each winter — Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork, Night Heron, etc. 3 ✅ Little Rann of Kutch: The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, is the world’s ONLY natural habitat for the Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur), locally called “Ghudkhur.” The population recovered from ~360 individuals in 1969 to over 5,000 today — a remarkable conservation success. IUCN: Near Threatened (recovering). 4 ✅ Chilika Lake: Chilika Lake was designated as India’s FIRST Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1981. The Nalbana Bird Sanctuary is the core WLS within Chilika. Chilika Lake has the ONLY known population of Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) in India — making it the flagship species of the lake. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and largest brackish water lagoon in Asia.
Q2. Which of the following is CORRECT about the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)?
1. IBCA officially became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation on January 23, 2025.
2. It focuses on conservation of 7 big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
3. Its headquarters is in India.
4. It was launched by PM Modi in April 2023 at the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger event.
✅ Answer: (d) All four are correct — key Jan 2025 current affairs
All four statements about the International Big Cat Alliance are correct and represent key 2025 current affairs. 1 ✅ Treaty-based (Jan 23, 2025): IBCA officially became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation on January 23, 2025, when Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and Liberia ratified the agreement. With 27 countries onboard, this gives IBCA formal international legal standing. 2 ✅ Seven big cats: IBCA focuses on the conservation of exactly 7 big cat species — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. This extends India’s conservation leadership beyond Project Tiger to include all major big cat species globally. 3 ✅ HQ in India: IBCA is headquartered in India — an acknowledgment of India’s leadership in big cat conservation (75% of world’s wild tigers, home to 5 of the 7 big cats). Founded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC on March 12, 2024. 4 ✅ PM Modi, April 2023: IBCA was launched by PM Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, at a special event in Mysuru, Karnataka, marking the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. The Union Cabinet approved its formal establishment in February 2024, and it was then formally constituted by NTCA in March 2024 before becoming treaty-based in January 2025.
📜 UPSC Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Consider the following statements:
1. Asiatic lions are naturally found in India only.
2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Official Answer: (a) 1 only — Asiatic Lion is found naturally only in India
1 ✅ Asiatic Lion — India ONLY: Panthera leo persica (Asiatic Lion) is found naturally only in India — specifically in and around Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. This is the world’s last remaining wild population of Asiatic Lions (~891 in 2025 census). Once distributed from Greece to India, lions were extirpated everywhere else. The Gir landscape is the sole surviving wild habitat. 2 ❌ Double-humped Camel — NOT India only: The Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus, double-humped) is native to Central Asia — Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, the Gobi Desert. India is not in its natural range. India does have dromedary camels (single-humped) in Rajasthan, but double-humped Bactrian camels are not native to India. 3 ❌ One-horned Rhino — NOT India only: The Great One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found naturally in BOTH India AND Nepal. India has ~3,500+ (mainly in Kaziranga, Assam) and Nepal has ~750+ (mainly in Chitwan National Park). It’s not exclusive to India — it’s an India-Nepal shared species. If the question had said “Greater/Major concentration of one-horned rhino,” India would qualify, but “naturally found in India only” is incorrect.
Which one of the following is the largest tiger reserve in India?
(a) Corbett
(b) Ranthambore
(c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
(d) Sundarbans
✅ Official Answer: (c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), spanning Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is India’s LARGEST Tiger Reserve by area. Key facts: Area: 3,296.31 sq km (covering 5 districts: Nandyal, Prakasam, Palnadu, Nalgonda, Mahabub Nagar in AP) | Established as TR: 1983 | Located in Nallamala Hills along Eastern Ghats | Constitutes parts of Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary | Nagarjunasagar Reservoir within | Wildlife: Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Pangolins, Indian Rock Python, Wolves, Sloth Bears. COMPARATIVE SIZE: Corbett TR (~1,318 sq km) | Ranthambore TR (~1,334 sq km) | Sundarbans TR (~2,585 sq km) | Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (3,296 sq km) — LARGEST. Note: Many sources give slightly different areas for Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (3,296 sq km vs 3,728 sq km depending on whether core+buffer or total area is counted) — UPSC consistently identifies it as the largest. It is also sometimes listed as spanning AP+Telangana since the 2014 bifurcation.
The disappearance of the Siberian Crane from Keoladeo is one of India’s most poignant conservation stories — and a perfect UPSC Mains case study connecting wildlife conservation, international cooperation, hunting, and habitat loss. The story: Keoladeo Ghana NP (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) was the ONLY known wintering ground in India for the Central Asian population of Siberian Cranes (Leucogeranus leucogeranus). Every winter, a small flock would fly ~5,000+ km from their breeding grounds in Siberia to winter at Bharatpur. The cranes were a symbol of the park — a UNESCO WHC landmark. The last sighting: The last confirmed sighting of a Siberian Crane at Keoladeo was in 2002. Since then, not a single Siberian Crane has returned. The Central Asian population (which wintered in India) is now considered functionally extinct — only a handful may survive in captivity. Why they disappeared: The cranes’ 5,000 km migration route passes through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran — where they were hunted. Even if India protected them perfectly at the wintering end, hunters along the migration corridor eliminated the birds before they could reach India. India could not protect migratory birds on their journey through other countries. This is why India signed the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS / Bonn Convention) — to coordinate protection across migration routes. The bigger lesson: Protected areas protect wildlife only within their boundaries. Migratory species need the ENTIRE flyway to be protected — requiring international cooperation. This failure led to stronger advocacy for the Central Asian Flyway conservation framework and India’s active engagement in CMS.
Legacy IAS — UPSC Civil Services Coaching, Bangalore |
Sources: LotusArise IAS — Wildlife Sanctuaries India (6 days ago 2026: 573 WLS March 2025); InclusiveIAS — Wildlife Sanctuaries India 2025 (Kutch Desert 7506 sq km largest; Kutch Bustard 2 sq km smallest); Wikipedia — List of wildlife sanctuaries India (March 2025: 573 WLS, 123,762.56 sq km; A&N Islands 97 WLS); Scienly — Wildlife Sanctuaries India (Vedanthangal 1796 community history); PIB — India’s Wildlife Conservation Milestones (IBCA Jan 23 2025 treaty; WWD 2025: dolphin report 28 rivers, Junagadh Referral Centre, WII-SACON CoE; NBWL 7th meeting Gir; ₹450 crore Budget 2025-26); APTI Plus — Wildlife Sanctuaries India 2025; NextIAS — Wildlife Sanctuaries types; PMF IAS — Odisha NPs and WLS (Chilika, Gahirmatha, Bhitarkanika details); StudyIQ — Wildlife Sanctuaries 2026 (573 WLS); Testbook — Bird sanctuaries India (Keoladeo, Vedanthangal, Pulicat); Atlas Obscura — Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary (arribada details); LearnUPSC — Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (1,435 sq km, declared 1997).
