List of Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in West Bengal 2024

Here is the list of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park in West Bengal. West Bengal has 6 notified National Parks and 16 notified Wildlife sanctuaries. This topic is very important for WBCS and various WBPSC exams.

Introduction

• The state of West Bengal is the 4th most populous state and the 14th largest state by area in India.

• It is situated in the Eastern region of India.

• West Bengal is rich in many forests and wildlife wings.

West Bengal is famous for

• Royal Bengal Tiger in the Gangetic delta of Sundarbans.

• The Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros grazing in the Terai/ Dooars grassland.

• The leopards are lurking in the foothills of the Himalayas.

• The Red Panda is resting in the bamboo groves of the Himalayas.

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Number of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in West Bengal

• The large varieties of flora and fauna of West Bengal possess the combined characteristics of the Himalayan, sub-Himalayan, and Gangetic plain.

• West Bengal has 4692 sq. Km of forests under the Protected Area (PA) network is 39.50% of the State’s recorded forest area.

• At present West Bengal has 6 National Parks and 16 Wildlife Sanctuaries.

• The latest notified Wildlife Sanctuaries of West Bengal is the Pakhi Bitan Wildlife Sanctuaries, located in Jalpaiguri District having an area of 14.09 sq. Km.

List of National Parks in West Bengal

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries in West Bengal

Currently, West Bengal has 6 national parks and 15 wildlife sanctuaries.

Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park in West Bengal map

Details about the National Park in West Bengal

Singalila National Park

Location

• Singalila National Park is on the Singalila Ridge in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

• It is bordered on the north by the state of Sikkim and on the west by the country of Nepal.

Date of declaration as a National Park

• The park was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1986.
• ☞ and was made an Indian National Park in 1992.

Flora

• Thick bamboo, oak, magnolia, rhododendron forest, and Himalayan Cobra Lilies (Arisaema).

Fauna

• Small mammals, including Red Panda, Leopard Cat, Barking Deer, Yellow-throated Marten, Wild Boar, Pangolin, and Pika.

• Larger mammals include the Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Serow, and the Takin.

• Rare and exotic bird species, including the Scarlet Minivet, Kalij Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, and Satyr Tragopan.  

Neora Valley National Park

Location

• Neora Valley National Park is a national park in Kalimpong district, West Bengal.

Flora

• The forests consist of mixed species like rhododendrons, bamboo, oak, ferns, sal, etc.

• The Valley also has numerous species of orchids.

Fauna 

• The fauna consists of such endangered species as the clouded leopard, red panda, and musk deer.

• There are five other species: civet, black bear, sloth bear, golden cat, goral, serow, barking deer, Himalayan flying squirrel, and Thar.

Other Key Facts

• Rechela Danda is the highest point of the Neora Valley National Park.

• Neora Valley National Park covers an area of 88 sq km.

• It is linked to the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of East Sikkim district as well as the forests of Samtse District, Bhutan via a thick cover of forests.

Gorumara National Park

Location

• Located in the Malbazar subdivision, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal.

• Situated in the Eastern Himalayas’ submontane Terai belt.

• Lies on the floodplains of the Murti River and Raidak River.

• The Jaldhaka River, part of the Brahmaputra river system, is the major river in the park.

• Close to Jaldapara Wildlife Reserve and Chapramari Wildlife Reserve.

Flora

• Dominated by Sal forests with species like:
  • Common Teak, Rain Tree, and Silk Cotton (Bombax malabaricum).
• Features Bamboo groves.

Fauna

• Reptiles and Amphibians: Includes species like:
  • Indian Python and King Cobra.

• Birds: Notable species include:
  • Scarlet Minivet, Sunbird, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Spangled Drongo, and Great Indian Hornbill.

• Mammals: Key species include:
  • Indian Rhinoceros, Gaur, Asian Elephant, Sloth Bear, Chital, and Sambar Deer.

Date of Declaration

• Declared a National Park: January 31, 1994.
• Declared a Reserve Forest: 1895.
• Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary: 1949.

Buxa National Park

Location

• Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) is located in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal.

Boundary of BTR

• The northern boundary runs along the international border with Bhutan.

• The Sinchula hill range lies along the northern side of the reserve.

• The eastern boundary touches the state of Assam.

• Represents the easternmost extension of the bio-diverse North-East India and the Indo-Malayan region.

• Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan) is contiguous to the north of Buxa.

• Manas National Park lies to the east of Buxa.

• Serves as an international elephant migration corridor between India and Bhutan.

Flora

• Main tree species: Sal, Champ, Gamar, Simul, and Chikrasi.

Fauna

• Indian Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard Cat, Bengal Florican, Regal Python, Chinese Pangolin, Hispid Hare, and Hog Deer.

Key species:

• Asian elephants, Tigers, Gaur, Wild boar, Sambar, and Wild dog (Dhole).

• Endangered species include the Indian Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard Cat, Bengal Florican, Regal Python, Chinese Pangolin, Hispid Hare, and Hog Deer.

Sundarbans National Park

Location

• Sundarbans National Park spans two districts in West Bengal:
  • North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas.

• The majority of the park is located in South 24 Parganas.

Flora and Fauna

• Densely covered with mangrove forests.

• The name “Sundarbans” is derived from the Sundari tree (Heritiera fomes) found here.

• Famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger.

• Home to a variety of species, including:
  • Birds, reptiles, and invertebrates.
  • Notable species: Salt-water crocodile.

Important Dates

• Included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (Man and Biosphere Reserve): 1989.

• Declared the core area of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve: 1973.

• Designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary: 1977.

• Declared a National Park: 4 May 1984.

• Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1987.

• Designated a Ramsar Site: 2019.

Jaldapara National Park

Location

• Jaldapara National Park is located in the Alipurduar District of northern West Bengal.
• The park is situated on the banks of the Torsa River.

Fauna

• Famous for the population of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.

• Other notable animals include:
  • Royal Bengal Tigers, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Wild Pigs, and Bison.

• One of the few places in India where the Bengal Florican is sighted.

Flora

• Gorumara National Park is located nearby.

• The forest is primarily covered with tall elephant grasses.

• The nearby Chilapata Forests serve as an elephant corridor between Jaldapara and the Buxa Tiger Reserve.

Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1915 in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India.

• The sanctuary covers an area of 38.60 sq. km.

• Located at an elevation ranging from 1,500m to over 2,600m.

• Forms the main water supply source for Darjeeling town.

Important Plant Species

• Notable plant species include:
  • Kapasi, Katus, Kawla, Champ, Mating Bamboo, and Ferns.

Important Bird Species

• Key bird species:
  • Large Yellow-Naped Woodpecker, Tickel’s Golden-Backed Woodpecker, Emerald Cuckoos, Black-Backed KhaJij Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Hornbills, Imperial Pigeons, Green Pigeons, Thrushes, Babblers, and Sunbirds.

Important Animal Species

• Himalayan Jackals, Wild Dogs, Barking Deer, Wild Pigs, and Jungle Cats.

• Key animal species: Himalayan Jackals, Wild Dogs, Barking Deer, Wild Pigs, and Jungle Cats.

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the foothills of the Himalayas, between the Teesta and Mahananda Rivers.

• Situated in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India.

Important Mammalian Species

• Key species include:
  • Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, and Leopard (including the Clouded Leopard).

Other Points

• The sanctuary was established in 1959 primarily to protect the Indian Bison and Royal Bengal Tiger, which were facing the threat of extinction.

• Sukna, the gateway to the sanctuary, is only 13 km from Siliguri and 28 km from Bagdogra Airport.

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal, India.
• It lies on the banks of the Murti River.

Origin of Name

• The name Chapramari comes from:
  • “Chopra” meaning a type of fish, and
  • “Mari” meaning abundant.

Fauna

• Famous for its elephant population.
• Gaur (Indian Bison) is commonly found in the region.

• Notable bird species include:
  • Green Magpie, Indian Treepie, Thrush, Scarlet Minivet, Hill Mayna, White-Breasted Kingfisher, Hornbill, Large-Headed Fishing Eagle, Adjutant Stork, etc.

• Common water birds:
  • Large and Little Cormorant, Darter, and Egret.

• Migratory birds:
  • Brahminy and Teals.

Flora

• Several orchids are commonly found in the sanctuary, including species from the genera:
  • Acampe, Bulbophyllum, Chiloschista, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Eria, Gastrochilus, Luisia, Oberonia, etc.

Other Important Points

• Chapramari is located near Gorumara National Park.

• The Chapramari Forest is near NH31, which connects the northeast with the rest of India.

• The Murti River flows along the western boundary of the sanctuary.

Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the confluence of the Matla and Gumdi Rivers in the South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India.

Fauna

• Noteworthy bird species:
  • Spotted Billed Pelican, Cotton Teal, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Grey Heron, Large Egret, Night Heron, Open-Billed Stork, White Ibis, Common Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite, and Paradise Flycatcher.

Important Points

• Established as a sanctuary in 1976.

• Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary is a vital part of the Sunderbans ecosystem.

Haliday Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Sunderbans in the South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal, India.

Important Points

• It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1976.

• Part of the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, which was officially designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

Flora and Fauna

• The Malta River, surrounding the sanctuary, is abundant in fish.

• The sanctuary is home to thriving mangrove species, along with sweet water species like casuarina and Karanja.

• Key animal species include Chital, Wild Pigs, Rhesus Monkeys, and Barking Deer.

Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India.

• Situated inside the Sundarbans at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the River Saptamukhi.

Flora and Fauna

• The marshes of the island harbor Estuarine Crocodiles.

• Principal tree species include Keora, Baen, and Goran.

• It is home to Estuarine Crocodiles, Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, Spotted Deer, Jungle Cats, and Rhesus Macaque.

• Bird species include Black-Capped Kingfisher, Curlew, White-Bellied Sea-Eagle, Tern, and Whimbrel.

Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Raiganj in the Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India.

Other Name

• It is popularly known as the Kulik Bird Sanctuary.

Other Important Points

• The Kulik River flows around part of the sanctuary, acting as the boundary in its eastern and southern parts.

• The shape of the sanctuary resembles the English alphabet “U”.

• The sanctuary is home to 164 species of birds, with around 70,000 to 80,000 migratory birds visiting annually.

Flora and Fauna

• The species is known to breed in colonies, called heronries.

• Migratory bird species include Open-Bill Storks, Egrets, Night Herons, and Cormorants.

• Resident bird species include Kites, Flycatchers, Owls, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, and Drongoes.

• The Asian Openbill is an important species in the sanctuary, whose primary diet consists of apple snails.

• The global population of the Asian Openbill is estimated to be 130,000, with around half of them residing in Asia.

Chintamoni Kar Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary is located in Narendrapur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, near the Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission.

Other Names

• Also known as Kayal-r Bagan.
• Previously named Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary was named after the renowned sculptor Sri Chintamani Kar.

Date of Declaration as a Wildlife Sanctuary

• Originally notified as a sanctuary in 1982.

Main Tree Species

• The sanctuary features a variety of tree species, including Mango, Jackfruit, Coconut, Tamarind, Guava, Dumur, Safeda, and Chatun.

Important Bird Species

• The Large-Billed Reed Warbler, a bird rediscovered in India after over a century, is a notable species in the sanctuary.

Important Animal Species

Jungle Cats, Civet Cats, Water Monitor Lizards, Jackals, and Mongooses are some of the significant animal species found in the sanctuary.

Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India.

• The sanctuary is about 100 km from Kolkata and 25 km from Bongaon.

• It is situated on the banks of the Ichamati River.

Other Name

• The sanctuary was formerly known as Parmadan Forest.

Important Species

• The sanctuary is home to more than 200 deer, various species of birds, rabbits, and langurs.

Jorepokhri Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India.

• It is approximately 20 kilometers away from Darjeeling town.

• The nearest border is the Northeast Nepal border.

Important Species

• The sanctuary is home to high-altitude species like the Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton verrucosus), locally known as ‘Gora’.

• Other species found in the sanctuary include swans and monkeys.

Main Features

• Jore means “two” in Nepali, and Pokhri means “lake”.

• The sanctuary is renowned for its twin lakes, which is the origin of its name.

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Bolpur Santiniketan in the Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.

• The sanctuary lies between two mighty rivers: the Damodar and the Ajay.

Popular For

• The sanctuary is well known for its Deer Park.

Important Species

• Other animals found in the sanctuary include jackals, foxes, and various water birds.

• Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its population of deer, including blackbuck and spotted deer.

Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• The Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Bethuadahari town, Nadia District, West Bengal, India.

• It is situated beside National Highway 12 (formerly NH 34).

Important Animal Species

• Common species in the sanctuary include spotted deer, jackal, Bengal fox, porcupine, and langur.

• Other species include Indian cuckoos, pythons, parakeets, barbets, and smaller birds.

• The sanctuary is also home to the rock python.

Important Plant Species

• The common trees found in the sanctuary include shal, teak, Arjun, Indian rosewood, and bamboo.

Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• The Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Bardhaman, West Bengal, India.

Animals Found Here

• The sanctuary is home to spotted deer and common langur.

Important Trees

• Common tree species in the sanctuary include teak, sal, kadbels, dumur, and jam.

West Sundarban Wildlife Sanctuary

Location

• The West Sundarban Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in South 24-Parganas, West Bengal.

• It is the 15th Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal.

Important Flora

• The sanctuary is home to a vast track of rich mangrove forests.

Important Fauna

• Notable animal species include the Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, wild boar, estuarine crocodile, water monitor lizard, and king cobra.

Some Important Questions About National Park in West Bengal

Q1: Name two national parks in West Bengal.

Answer: Among the 6 national parks in West Bengal, the two famous National Parks are Gorumra National Park (famous for Indian rhinoceros) and Sundarbans National Park (famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger).

Q2: What is the largest national park in West Bengal?
Answer: Sundarban National Park (1330 sq. km)

Q3: Which is the oldest national park in West Bengal?
Answer: Gorumara National Park (It was given official status as an Indian National Park on 31 January 1992)

Q4: Which is the smallest national park in West Bengal?
Answer: Singalila National Park (total area 78.60 sq km)

Q5. Which is the first national park in West Bengal?
Answer: Sundarban National Park (In 1984 it was declared a national park)

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