Wildlife Sanctuary

The wildlife sanctuary is a protected land area for the conservation and preservation of wildlife and their natural habitats. These areas are established to provide a protected environment, where various plant and animal species can thrive without any human disturbance. These wildlife sanctuaries have played a significant role in preventing many rare species of animals from being extinct.

What is a Wildlife Sanctuary?  

A wildlife sanctuary is designed to protect some of the most endangered and threatened animal species on the planet. These sanctuaries tend to focus on specific types of animals or even individual species that need special care and attention outside of the general ecosystem. A wildlife sanctuary offers many benefits to both visitors and the protected animals within its defined area.

History of Wildlife Sanctuary 

The first wildlife sanctuary in the world was established in 1872 in India. The sanctuary was established to protect the elephants that were being hunted for their ivory. Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam is the first sanctuary or national park to be established in the country. The first national park in the world was established in 1878 in the United States. The park was established to protect the Yellowstone Geyser Basin.

There are now more than 1,600 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks around the world. In 1952, the Indian Wildlife Board was enacted to centralize all the rules and regulations applicable to wildlife conservation in India, which also remitted from state to state. In 1956, this Board passed a corner decree that accorded all Game Parks the status of a Sanctuary or a National Park. The Wildlife sanctuaries of India are classified as IUCN Category IV covered areas. As of February 2023, 567 wildlife sanctuaries were set up in India, covering 122,564.86 km²or 3.73% of the country’s total land area.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Some of the names of Indian wildlife sanctuaries are:

1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
2. Manas National Park, Assam
3. Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh
4. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
5. Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
6. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
7. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
8. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
9. Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat
10. The Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh

Characteristics of Wildlife Sanctuary

The following are the characteristics of a wildlife sanctuary:

• The main aim of the wildlife sanctuary is to protect and maintain the natural habitat and ecosystem so that the wildlife can thrive without human interference.
• Hunting, poaching, and other forms of exploitation of wildlife are strictly prohibited in wildlife sanctuaries.
• Wildlife sanctuaries provide a safe environment for endangered or threatened species so that they can recover and stabilize their populations.
• Within wildlife sanctuaries, human activities are restricted and regulated to minimize disturbances to wildlife and their habitats. Tourism and other activities like research work are allowed only under specific guidelines to maintain ecological balance.
• Wildlife sanctuaries are provided with buffer zones surrounding the core area, that act as a transition zone between the protected area and human settlements. These buffer zones help reduce human-wildlife conflicts and provide additional protection to the sanctuary.
• It acts as a center for scientific research, ecological studies, and educational purposes.

Importance of Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks play a critical role in the conservation of wildlife. The following are the advantages of the wildlife sanctuary:

• It plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance by preserving natural processes, predator-prey relationships, and other ecological interactions.
• It provides a conducive environment for the recovery and stabilization of the endangered population, thus contributing towards preventing extinction and enhancing species survival aspects. Thereby helping in maintaining genetic diversity.
• It offers opportunities for scientific research and ecological studies.
• Wildlife sanctuaries act as buffer zones and provide space for wildlife to roam freely without coming into direct conflict with human activities. This reduces instances of human-wildlife conflict.
• Wildlife sanctuaries allow regulated and sustainable use of natural resources by local communities, maintaining a balance between conservation and livelihoods.

Advantages of Wildlife Sanctuary

There are many advantages of these wildlife sanctuaries. Some of the advantages are as follows:

• These sanctuaries help in the conservation of various species of animals.
• They help in the maintenance of the ecological balance.
• They help in the protection of the environment.
• They help in the propagation of various species of animals.
• They provide shelter to the animals.
• They help in the education and awareness of the public about wildlife.

Measures to Protect Wildlife 

There are many things that people can do to help protect wildlife. Some of these include:

• Supporting organizations that work to protect wild animals and their habitats.
• Learning about the threats that different species face and taking steps to reduce our impact on their environment.
• Avoiding the purchase of products that were made using animal skins or other parts of endangered species.
• Refusing to participate in activities that involve the exploitation or mistreatment of wild animals, such as hunting, fishing, or trapping. 
• Supporting organizations that work to protect and conserve wildlife habitats. 

Projects taken by the Indian government to Protect Vulnerable Species 

• Project tiger
• Crocodile Breeding Project 
• Lesser Cats Project 
• The Manipur Brow-antlered Deer Project
• Project Elephant
• Project Rhino
• Himalayan musk deer  Project 
• Project Hangul  

Protection of Endangered Species

The following actions have been made by the government to conserve the country’s threatened and endangered wild animal species:-

• Under the terms of the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, wild animals are legally protected from being hunted and exploited for commercial purposes.
• The Wild Life Protection Act of 1972 has been revised and strengthened. The Act’s penalties for violations have been strengthened. The Act further stipulates that any tools, vehicles, or weapons used to commit wildlife offenses must be forfeited.
• Under the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act, of 1972, Protected Areas, including National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves, covering significant wildlife habitats have been established throughout the nation to preserve wild animals.
• Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats,” “Project Tiger,” and “Project Elephant,” financial and technical support is given to the State/Union Territory Governments in order to improve wildlife protection and habitat.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 gives the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the authority to capture and prosecute wildlife criminals.
• It has been urged that the State/Union Territory Governments beef up their field formations and increase patrols in and around the Protected Areas.
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau was established to bolster the legal system’s ability to combat poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife and its byproducts.
• Officials from State Departments of maintaining strict surveillance.

Ecotourism

Normally people visiting are banned in wildlife sanctuaries. Some wildlife sanctuaries are also involved in tourism. People can visit, have nature walks, tour guides, etc.

FAQs on Wildlife Sanctuary

Q: How is a wildlife sanctuary different from a national park?

Answer:

While both wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are protected areas, there are some key differences. Wildlife sanctuaries are primarily focused on conserving wildlife and their habitats, whereas national parks are aimed at protecting natural landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural heritage.

Q: Can visitors enter wildlife sanctuaries?

Answer:

Yes, visitors can often enter wildlife sanctuaries. Many sanctuaries allow controlled eco-tourism activities to generate revenue for conservation efforts. However, access to certain areas might be restricted to minimize disturbance to wildlife.

Q: Is hunting allowed in wildlife sanctuaries?

Answer:

No, hunting and poaching are strictly prohibited in wildlife sanctuaries. The main objective of these protected areas is to provide a safe and undisturbed habitat for wildlife.

Q: How are wildlife sanctuaries managed?

Answer:

Wildlife sanctuaries are managed by wildlife authorities or conservation organizations. They oversee the protection of wildlife, habitat management, research, and tourism activities if permitted.

Q: How do wildlife sanctuaries contribute to local communities?

Answer:

Besides conservation, wildlife sanctuaries can support local communities through eco-tourism, providing employment opportunities, and engaging in community development projects.