National Parks in Jharkhand, Map, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves

National Parks in Jharkhand are the areas that have been established to conserve wildlife, forests, rivers, and fragile ecosystems. National Parks in India receive the highest level of protection under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, prohibiting grazing, forestry, and human exploitation. Wildlife Sanctuaries allow limited human activity under regulation, while Tiger Reserves focus on long-term tiger conservation using core and buffer zones. These protected areas help maintain biodiversity, safeguard endangered species, support ecological balance, and preserve genetic resources for future generations through scientific management and monitoring.

Protected Areas in Jharkhand

Jharkhand has diverse protected areas spread across plateau, hill, forest, and riverine landscapes.

1. National Parks: Highest legal protection areas conserving entire ecosystems.
2. Tiger Reserves: Landscapes focused on tiger survival and prey conservation.
3. Wildlife Sanctuaries: Areas protecting specific fauna, flora, and habitats.
4. Bird Sanctuaries: Wetlands conserving migratory and resident bird species.
5. Ramsar Sites: Internationally important wetlands recognized for biodiversity value.

National Parks in Jharkhand

Jharkhand has only one National Park, Betla National Park, making it extremely significant for biodiversity conservation in eastern India. Located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, it forms the core of the Palamau Tiger Reserve and includes Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary. The park protects tropical deciduous forests dominated by sal and bamboo, river systems like the North Koel, and diverse wildlife including tigers, elephants, gaur, and wolves. Betla also holds historical importance, tribal heritage, and was among India’s earliest Project Tiger landscapes.

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Betla National Park

Betla National Park is Jharkhand’s only National Park, notified in 1986 and spread over 231.67 square kilometres in Latehar and Palamu districts.

1. Location: Situated on Chota Nagpur Plateau across Latehar and Palamu districts.
2. River System: North Koel River flows through, forming seasonal waterfalls.
3. Forest Type: Dominated by sal, bamboo, mahua, semal, and mixed deciduous vegetation.
4. Faunal Diversity: Tigers, elephants, gaur, sloth bear, wolves, chital, sambhar present.
5. Avifauna: Hornbills, black ibis, quails, Indian pitta frequently recorded.
6. Conservation Status: Core area of Palamau Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
7. Unique Feature: Includes Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, India’s first wolf sanctuary.
8. Cultural Aspect: Inhabited historically by Oraon and Munda tribal communities.

Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand

Jharkhand has one Tiger Reserve, Palamau Tiger Reserve, which is among the nine original tiger reserves notified in India under Project Tiger. Spread across Latehar and Garhwa districts, it covers 1,129.93 square kilometres with clearly demarcated core and buffer zones. The reserve has undulating terrain, valleys, hills, and dry deciduous forests dominated by sal. Despite challenges like difficult terrain and left-wing extremism, it supports tigers, elephants, leopards, wolves, and rich prey diversity, making it ecologically critical for eastern India.

Palamau Tiger Reserve

Palamau Tiger Reserve forms the backbone of tiger conservation in Jharkhand.

1. Area Coverage: Core 414.08 square kilometres, buffer 715.85 square kilometres.
2. Rivers: North Koel, Auranga, and Burha rivers drain the reserve.
3. Forest Types: Dry and moist deciduous sal forests with bamboo brakes.
4. Wildlife Richness: Tigers, elephants, leopards, wolves, wild dogs recorded.
5. Biodiversity Data: 39 mammals, 170 birds, and 8 reptile species documented.
6. Historical Importance: First tiger pugmark census conducted here in 1934.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Jharkhand

Jharkhand has a well-distributed network of Wildlife Sanctuaries conserving elephants, leopards, wolves, deer, birds, and dry deciduous forest ecosystems. These sanctuaries protect important corridors, hill ranges, river valleys, and plateau forests across the state. Many sanctuaries are contiguous, forming larger conservation landscapes along Bihar and Chhattisgarh borders. They support endangered species, migratory birds, and unique habitats while also acting as buffers for the Palamau Tiger Reserve and contributing to ecological connectivity across eastern India.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Jharkhand List

Jharkhand has eleven notified Wildlife Sanctuaries with distinct ecological roles.

1. Palamu Wildlife Sanctuary: Large sanctuary supporting elephants, gaur, and sambhar within Project Tiger landscape.
2. Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary: Dry deciduous forest north of Ranchi, notable for panther and wild vulture presence.
3. Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary: India’s first wolf sanctuary and breeding ground for Indian grey wolf.
4. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary: Important elephant corridor in Dalma Hills linking forest patches.
5. Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary: Small sanctuary near Parasnath Hills with dry sal forests.
6. Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary: River-bounded sanctuary connected to Gautam Budha and Koderma forests.
7. Koderma Wildlife Sanctuary: Dry deciduous forest adjacent to Gautam Budha Sanctuary supporting leopards.
8. Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Parasnath Hills, sacred to Jainism and rich in fauna.
9. Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary: River-drained hilly forest connected to Saranda and Dalma landscapes.
10. Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary: Spread across Jharkhand and Bihar with mixed deciduous forests.
11. Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary: Only bird sanctuary of Jharkhand supporting migratory waterfowl.

Ramsar Site in Jharkhand

Jharkhand has one Ramsar Site, Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary, recognized internationally for wetland biodiversity.

1. Location: Situated in Sahibganj district along the Ganga River.
2. Wetland Structure: Comprises Pataura Lake and Barhel Lake connected by channels.
3. Biodiversity Value: Supports over 140 bird species including migratory waterfowl.
4. Threatened Species: Habitat for band-tailed fish eagle, common pochard, lesser adjutant stork.
5. Cultural Importance: Named after saint Uddhava and linked to the historic 1763 battle site.