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Wildlife Sanctuaries | National Park

The State of West Bengal located in the eastern part of India has a total geographical area of 88,752 sq km of which the recorded forest area comprises 11,879 sq km or 13.38% of the total area. The Protected Areas (Sanctuaries and National Parks) cover 34% of the recorded forest land and 4% of the total geographical area of the State. Altitudinal, physiographic and climatic variations have contributed to diverse ecosystems, habitats and wildlife forms in the state. 

15 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 5 National Parks and 2 Tiger Reserves provide a home for the State's wildlife - Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinoceros, Indian Bison, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Sambar, Cheetal, Hog-deer, Barking deer, Wild Boar, Saltwater Crocodiles, Common Langur and Rhesus Monkeys. Bird life also abounds and some of the last remaining water bodies harbor a large population of local migratory birds during the winter months.

Location
The Jaldapara Wildlfe Sanctuary with an area of 216.51 sq.km, is a mosaic of woods, grassland, swamps and streams with great diversity of fauna and flora. It is located in the eastern part of Jalpaiguri district with NH-31 dividing it in two.

Wildlife
The Jaldapara Sanctuary is home for the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. Herds of elephants can frequently be found using it as feeding grounds. Hog deer, spotted deer, barking deer and sambar are found, as are Gaur or Indian Bison. Tigers and leopards might also be seen moving stealthily through grass and bush, if one is lucky. The Sanctuary is home for some rare and endemic species like the hispid hare, hogbadger etc, also for wild boar and sloth bears. A rich and varied avifauna is found here-the Crested Eagle, Pallas’s Fishing Eagle and shikra are common. So are Jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges and sometimes the Bengal Florican and lesser Pied Hornbill. Python, monitor lizards, krates, cobras, geckos and about 8 species of fresh water turtles enrich the reptilian diversity.

How To Get There
The place is well-connected by National Highways and State Highways to important railway stations like New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. The Delhi-Gauhati and Howrah-Gauhati routes also connect this area.. Flights to Bagdogra, which is approximately 140 km from Madarihat are available from Delhi and Calcutta. 

The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary constitutes the forests of the lower catchment area of the Mahananda river, and covers an area of 159.86 sq.km. Situated at the western end of the elephant migration route, more than 150 elephants shelter here during the monsoon and winter seasons. Migratory water birds are common in winter. The other animals found are the rare mountain goat (Serow), some tigers and herds of Gaur, leopards, wild pig, varieties of deer and monkeys, jungle cats, porcupines, civets, monitor lizards and snakes. The Sanctuary offers some beautiful trekking routes from Sukna. Golaghat, Deorali and the Latpancher-Mana track are the favourites for trekking and bird watching. Sukna, about 7 km from Siliguri, is the main entry point, and has a Nature Interpretation Centre.

Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, in North Dinajpur district is famous for its birds. From June onwards migratory birds crowd the sanctuary - Open-bill storks, Egrets, Night Herons and Cormorants. The resident birds are Kites, Fly-catchers, Owls, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Drongoes, etc.

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Shantiniketan in Birbhum district, is known for Black Buck, Spotted deer, jackals, foxes and a variety of water birds.

Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary with Cheetal and Barking deer. 

Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary with its population of Cheetal, Barking deer, Sambar, jungle cats, jackals etc.

Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary , Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary and Adina Deer Park.

Senchal Sanctuary, adjoining Darjeeling town, is the home of barking deer, wild pigs, himalayan black bear, leopards, jungle cats, common rhesus monkeys, assamese macaque, himalayan flying squirrels, etc. The sanctuary is also rich in bird life.

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