Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary - Facts for UPSC

The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the 566 existing sanctuaries of India, providing safety and protection to wildlife, mainly the Indian Bison and Royal Bengal Tiger. It is located in West Bengal. This sanctuary is home to several plant and animal species. 

The sanctuary with its uniqueness is one of the important topics of the UPSC syllabus.

Location of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal

The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is located between the Mahananda and Teesta river in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. This sanctuary falls under the Darjeeling Wildlife Division. It is 30 minutes away from Siliguri, and approximately 45 minutes away from Bagdogra Airport and New Jalpaiguri Railway station. The Teesta river is located east of the sanctuary, and Hill Cart road and Mahananda river lie to the west. One can easily reach the bank of the Mahananda river by driving through the main forest road.  

About the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

This important sanctuary of West Bengal covers an area of 159 square kilometres. It was started as a game sanctuary, where the authorities allowed various animal joyrides to the children. But in 1959, the forest received the status of a sanctuary. The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal assures safety to the Indian Bison and Royal Bengal Tiger, as these two are listed as endangered species. Besides these two species, various kinds of animals and birds are also found in this forest. 

The altitude of this sanctuary varies between 500 feet to 4300 feet. It starts from Sukna, also known as the Gateway, to the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Sukna is situated at the height of 500 feet from sea level. It extends up to Latpanchar, situated at an altitude of 4300 feet. Due to this variation in altitude, different vegetation types are found here, including riverain forest and dense mixed wet forest. 

The Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary of West Bengal includes several forest villages like Gulma, Sevoke, Saat Mile, Latlong, Sukna, and Kalijhora, etc. 

To clear the UPSC Prelims, the aspirants must know about the sanctuary in depth. 

The Royal Bengal Tiger found in the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is also the National Animal of India. Aspirants can get important facts about the animal in the linked article. 

Importance of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

The Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary is one of the important sanctuaries in India. It plays a key role in conserving the Royal Bengal Tiger and Indian Bison. Besides, it is rich in both indigenous flora and fauna. Recently, it has been declared an “Important Bird Area,” as it conserves and protects different kinds of birds. 

Include this information in your UPSC notes, as you may expect questions from it. 

Flora of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is home to more than 300 types of plants. The most commonly found floral species of this sanctuary are khairu, sisoo, sal, simul, teak, fern, champ, lali, jarul, bamboo, orchid, etc. Bordered by mountains and drained by rivulets, this forest offers a breathtakingly beautiful sight to all visitors. 

Fauna of the Sanctuary 

The Mahananda wildlife sanctuary is famous for its bird population. More than 300 species of birds can be found in this sanctuary. Not only the local birds but also the migratory birds visit here. Swallow, swift, babbler, sunbird, kingfisher, Himalayan pied hornbill, etc., can be easily spotted in this sanctuary. 

As for mammals, there are 14 Royal Bengal Tigers in this sanctuary, according to the 2003 census. Besides, there are 36 other different types of mammals. If lucky, one can spot Himalayan black bears, clouded leopards, rare mountain goats, porcupines, and barking deer in this sanctuary.  

source:wikimedia commons

Tourism in the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary 

There are several watchtowers from where one can enjoy the beauty of the forest. The watchtower of Latlong is famous for elephant viewing. The Gulma watchtower is the best place to see deer and bison. The Toribari watchtower is ideal for watching various kinds of birds, etc. The best time to visit the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is between November and April. The sanctuary remains closed from mid-June to mid-September due to the monsoon and breeding season of most of the animals. 

This information regarding the Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary is important for the IAS exam.