Protected areas of West Bengal
Encyclopedia
Protected areas of West Bengal cover 4% of the state area. Forests make up 14% of the geographical area of West Bengal
, which is lower than the national average of 23%. Part of the world's largest mangrove
forest, Sundarbans, is located in southern West Bengal.
There are five national parks and 10 Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal
.
s includes the Indian rhinoceros
, Indian elephant
s, deer
, bison
, leopard
s, gaur
, and crocodile
s. The state is also rich in bird life. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter. The high altitude forests like Singalila National Park
shelter barking deer, red panda
, chinkara
, takin
, serow
, pangolin
, minivet
and Kalij pheasant
s. In addition to the Bengal tiger
, the Sundarbans host many other endangered species like the Ganges River Dolphin
, river terrapin
, estuarine crocodile
etc. The mangrove forest also acts as a natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fish
es along the Bay of Bengal.
mangrove
forests of the Sundarbans. The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain compounded with favorable rainfall make this region especially fertile. Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state shares floristic similarities with the plants of the Chota Nagpur
plateau in the adjoining state of Jharkhand. The predominant commercial tree species is Shorea robusta, commonly known as sal. The coastal region of Purba Medinipur
exhibits coastal vegetation; the predominant tree is the Casuarina
. The most valuable tree from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous sundri (Heritiera fomes) from which the forest gets its name. Vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation
and precipitation
. For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars, are densely wooded with Sal and other trees of the tropical evergreen type. Above 1000 m, the forest type changes to subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1500 m, common trees typifying the temperate forest are oak
s, conifers, and rhododendron
s.
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, which is lower than the national average of 23%. Part of the world's largest mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
forest, Sundarbans, is located in southern West Bengal.
There are five national parks and 10 Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
.
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries
- Jaldapara Wildlife SanctuaryJaldapara Wildlife SanctuaryJaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is a protect park situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal and on the bank of river Torsa and have an area of 141 km² and altitude of 61 m...
- Mahananda Wildlife SanctuaryMahananda Wildlife SanctuaryMahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the foothills of the Himalayas, between the Teesta and Mahananda rivers.-Location and History:Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. It comes under Darjeeling Wildlife division and can be reached from...
- Sundarban Biosphre Reserve
- Buxa National Park
- Neora Valley National ParkNeora Valley National ParkNeora Valley National Park is situated in the Kalimpong subdivision under Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India and was established in 1986. It spreads over an area of 88 km² and is one of the richest biological zones in the entire Northeast...
- Singalila National ParkSingalila National ParkSingalila National Park is a national park of India located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it....
- Ballabhpur Wildlife SanctuaryBallabhpur Wildlife SanctuaryBallabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1977. This wooded area is located near Santiniketan in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum District in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:...
- Bethuadahari Wildlife SanctuaryBethuadahari Wildlife SanctuaryBethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Nadia District, West Bengal,beside NH-34 has a large population of Spotted deer, Jackal, Bengal fox, Porcupine, Common Langur...
- Bibhutibhushan Wildlife SanctuaryBibhutibhushan Wildlife SanctuaryBibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal has a healthy population of spotted deer and the sanctuary is also rich in common birds.-References:*...
- Chapramari Wildlife SanctuaryChapramari Wildlife SanctuaryChapramari Wildlife Reserve is close to the Gorumara National Park. Chapramari is about 30 km from Chalsa and Lataguri in West Bengal, India.A huge variety of flora and fauna covers the forests. Chapramari is famous for its elephant population....
- Gorumara National ParkGorumara National ParkGorumara National Park is a National Park in northern West Bengal, India. Located in the Terai region of the Himalayan foothills, it is a medium-sized park with grasslands and forests. It is primarily known for its population of Indian Rhinoceros...
- Jore Pokhri Wildlife SanctuaryJore Pokhri Wildlife SanctuaryJore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Darjeeling District, West Bengal. It is the habitat of some high-altitude animals like Himalayan Salamander , locally known as 'Gora'. The forest is artificially decorated and offers some breathtaking views.-References:*...
- Narendrapur Wildlife SanctuaryNarendrapur Wildlife SanctuaryNarendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal is an Orchard Plantation and constitutes only and is rich in smaller birds, specially Paradise Flycatcher, Oriole etc.-References:*...
- Raiganj Wildlife SanctuaryRaiganj Wildlife SanctuaryRaiganj Wildlife Sanctuary is situated near Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The bird sanctuary is home to 164 species of birds, and some 70,000 to 80,000 migratory birds visit the sanctuary every year.-Location:It is located north from the centre of...
- Ramnabagan Wildlife SanctuaryRamnabagan Wildlife SanctuaryRamnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Burdwan, West Bengal, India. The animals found includes Spotted deer and Common Langur. Black Buck has been introduced recently.-References:*...
- Lothian Island Wildlife SanctuaryLothian Island Wildlife SanctuaryLothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. The wildlife in this sanctuary includes Estuarine Crocodile, Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Spotted Deer, Jungle cat, Rhesus macaque.-References:*...
- Sajnakhali Wildlife SanctuarySajnakhali Wildlife SanctuarySajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India and is home to a rich population of different species of wildlife...
- Haliday Island Wildlife SanctuaryHaliday Island Wildlife SanctuaryHaliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the Wildlife sanctuaries of India, and is located in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Location:This Island is in the south of 24 Parganas.It has wild boar, barking and spotted deer, and rhesus monkeys....
- Senchal Wildlife SanctuarySenchal Wildlife SanctuarySenchal Wildlife Sanctuary was set up in 1915 in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India. It is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries of India. It covers an area of 38.60 sq km...
Wildlife
Wildlife in these Protected areaProtected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s includes the Indian rhinoceros
Indian Rhinoceros
The Indian Rhinoceros is also called Greater One-horned Rhinoceros and Asian One-horned Rhinoceros and belongs to the Rhinocerotidae family...
, Indian elephant
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
s, deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s, gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
, and crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s. The state is also rich in bird life. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter. The high altitude forests like Singalila National Park
Singalila National Park
Singalila National Park is a national park of India located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it....
shelter barking deer, red panda
Red Panda
The red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...
, chinkara
Chinkara
The Chinkara is a species of gazelle found in south Asia.-Habitat and Distribution:It lives in grasslands and desert areas in India, Bangladesh and parts of Iran and Pakistan...
, takin
Takin
The Takin , also called cattle chamois or gnu goat, is a goat-antelope found in the Eastern Himalayas. There are four subspecies: B. taxicolor taxicolor, the Mishmi Takin; B. taxicolor bedfordi, the Shanxi or Golden Takin; B. taxicolor tibetana, the Tibetan or Sichuan Takin; and B. taxicolor...
, serow
Serow
Serow may refer to:*Three species of Asian ungulate in the genus Capricornis**Japanese Serow**Mainland Serow**Taiwan Serow* Serow, Iran, a city in Urmia County, West Azarbaijan Province, Iran*Alternative spelling of Serov...
, pangolin
Pangolin
A pangolin , also scaly anteater or Trenggiling, is a mammal of the order Pholidota. There is only one extant family and one genus of pangolins, comprising eight species. There are also a number of extinct taxa. Pangolins have large keratin scales covering their skin and are the only mammals with...
, minivet
Minivet
The minivets are passerine birds belonging to the genus Pericrocotus in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. There are about 13 species, occurring mainly in forests in southern and eastern Asia. They are fairly small, slender birds with long tails and an erect posture. Many species have bright...
and Kalij pheasant
Kalij Pheasant
The Kalij Pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos, is a pheasant found in forests and thickets, especially in the Himalayan foothills, from the Northern India to western Thailand. Males are rather variable depending on the subspecies involved, but all have an at least partially glossy bluish-black plumage,...
s. In addition to the Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
, the Sundarbans host many other endangered species like the Ganges River Dolphin
Ganges and Indus River Dolphin
The South Asian River Dolphin is a freshwater or river dolphin found in India, Nepal and Pakistan which is split into two sub-species, the Ganges River Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin...
, river terrapin
Terrapin
A terrapin is a turtle living in fresh or brackish water.Terrapin may also refer to:* Terrapin , a transport vehicle used for amphibious assault by the Allies during the Second World War...
, estuarine crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
etc. The mangrove forest also acts as a natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fish
Coastal fish
Coastal fish, also called offshore fish or neritic fish, are fish that inhabit the sea between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf. Since the continental shelf is usually less than 200 metres deep, it follows that pelagic coastal fish are generally epipelagic fish, inhabiting the...
es along the Bay of Bengal.
Fauna
From a phytogeographic viewpoint, the southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two regions: the Gangetic plain and the littoralLittoral
The littoral zone is that part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from the high water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes this intertidal zone and is often used to...
mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
forests of the Sundarbans. The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain compounded with favorable rainfall make this region especially fertile. Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state shares floristic similarities with the plants of the Chota Nagpur
Chota Nagpur
Chota Nagpur may refer to*Chota Nagpur Plateau*Chhotanagpur*Chota Nagpur Division, a division of British India *Chota Nagpur States, a collection of princely states of British India...
plateau in the adjoining state of Jharkhand. The predominant commercial tree species is Shorea robusta, commonly known as sal. The coastal region of Purba Medinipur
Purba Medinipur
Purba Medinipur district , or East Midnapore district is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the southernmost district of Burdwan division – one of the three administrative divisions of West Bengal. The headquarter is located at Tamluk...
exhibits coastal vegetation; the predominant tree is the Casuarina
Casuarina
Casuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australasia, southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It was once treated as the sole genus in the family, but has been split into three genera .They are evergreen shrubs and trees growing to 35 m tall...
. The most valuable tree from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous sundri (Heritiera fomes) from which the forest gets its name. Vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
and precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars, are densely wooded with Sal and other trees of the tropical evergreen type. Above 1000 m, the forest type changes to subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1500 m, common trees typifying the temperate forest are oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s, conifers, and rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
s.