National Parks of West Bengal
West Bengal, is a state located in the eastern part of India. This state has a diverse range of flora and fauna. So now we will look at the most important and famous National Parks in West Bengal.
What is a National Park?
An area of countryside, or occasionally sea or fresh water, protected by the state for the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of wildlife under sec.35. or sec.38 or deemed, under sub-section (3) of sec.66.
There are six National Parks in West Bengal. All these are spreading over around 1300 square Kilometers. Rhinoceros, Chita, The Royal Bengal Tiger, the Red Panda, etc. are the most famous animals in these national parks in WB.
List of National Parks of West Bengal
| Sl No. | Name | Established | District | Area sq km | Famous For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaldapara National Park | 2014 | Alipurduar | 216.51 | Rhinoceros |
| 2 | Buxa National Park | 1992 | Alipurduar | 117 | Tigers |
| 3 | Gorumara National Park | 1994 | Jalpaiguri | 80 | Rhinoceros |
| 4 | Singalila National Park | 1992 | Darjeeling | 78.60 | Red Panda |
| 5 | Sundarbans National Park | 1984 | 24 Parganas | 16,900 | Tiger |
| 6 | Neora Valley National Park | 1986 | Kalimpong | 159.89 | Red Panda |
Jaldapara National Park is Famous For : Asiatic One Horned Rhinoceros and Bengal florican Bird
Buxa National Park Famous For: Tiger
Gorumara National Park Famous for: Indian Rhinoceros
Singalila National Park is Famous For: Red Panda
Sundarbans National Park is Famous For: Bengal tiger and Sundari trees
Neora Valley National Park is Famous for: Red Panda.
List of Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal
West Bengal is home to several wildlife sanctuaries that play a vital role in conserving the rich biodiversity of the region. Please note that new sanctuaries may have been established or changes may have occurred since my last update. Here is a list of 16 notable wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal:
- Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Darjeeling district, established in 1915.
- Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Darjeeling district, to protect the Indian Bison and Royal Bengal Tiger.
- Chapramari WLS: Located in Jalpaiguri District, famous for its elephant population.
- Buxa Tiger Reserve (Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary): Located in the Alipurduar sub-division of the Jalpaiguri district. It is a significant protected area and a tiger reserve known for its diverse wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and various species of deer.
- Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary: Situated within the Sundarbans, it is known for its interpretation center and wildlife.
- Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the South 24 Parganas district, it is known for its diverse bird species and mangrove ecosystem.
- Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the South 24 Parganas district, it is an important bird area with diverse bird species.
- Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the North Dinajpur district, it is known for being home to 164 species of birds.
- Chintamoni Kar WLS: located in in South 24-Parganas, is home to a great variety of birds, butterflies, epiphytes, ferns, orchids, and reptiles. At the Sanctuary, more than 150 different bird species have been identified.
- Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in North 24 Parganas district, spotted deer and is rich in common birds.
- Jorepokhri Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Darjeeling District, spotted high altitude animals like Himalayan Newt or Salamander.
- Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Asansol-Durgapur region of West Bengal, is home to a number of deer including the Blackbuck and Spotted deer.
- Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary: Situated in the Nadia District, has a large population of Spotted deer, Jackal, Bengal fox, Porcupine, and Common Langur.
- Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary: Situated in the West Midnapore district, it is known for its avian diversity and wetland habitats.
- West Sundarban Wildlife Sanctuary: situated in South 24-Parganas. This sanctuary has a huge stretch of productive mangrove woods, where one may find animals like the tiger, spotted deer, wild boar, estuarine crocodile, water monitor lizard, and king cobra, among others.
- Pakhibitan Wildlife Sanctuary: Situated in the Jalpaiguri district, popular for aquatic and migratory birds.
FAQs on National Parks are in West Bengal
West Bengal at a Glance
- Capital: Kolkata
- Official animal: Fishing cat
- Area: 88,752 km²
- Official Bird: White-throated kingfisher
- Districts: 23 (5 divisions)
- Official Flower: Night-flowering jasmine