National Parks, Biosphere Reserves & Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Delhi Police Exams - GK Section
Introduction: India's Natural Heritage
India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries of the world, home to nearly 8% of global biodiversity. To conserve this incredible variety of flora and fauna, the Government of India has established protected areas like National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves.
Memory Trick: "Parks protect animals, Sanctuaries shelter them, and Biospheres balance nature."
Protected Area Network (PAN) of India
| Type | Objective | Human Activity Allowed? | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Park | Complete protection of flora & fauna | ❌ No | Wildlife conservation |
| Wildlife Sanctuary | Protection with limited human activity | ⚠️ Yes (regulated) | Habitat protection |
| Biosphere Reserve | Integrates conservation + sustainable use | ✅ Yes (in buffer areas) | Ecology & humans both |
National Parks
Definition & Features
A National Park is a strictly protected area reserved for wildlife where no human activity like grazing, hunting, or forestry is allowed.
Authority
Declared under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Management
Managed by State Governments
Important National Parks
| National Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett NP | Uttarakhand | First National Park (1936), Tigers |
| Kaziranga NP | Assam | One-horned Rhinoceros |
| Gir NP | Gujarat | Asiatic Lions |
| Ranthambhore NP | Rajasthan | Royal Bengal Tigers |
| Sundarbans NP | West Bengal | Mangrove Tiger habitat |
Memory Trick: "Courageous Kaziranga Guards Gir's Roaring Tigers"
(C = Corbett, K = Kaziranga, G = Gir, R = Ranthambhore, T = Tigers of Sunderbans)
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Definition & Features
Areas reserved for protection of animals and their habitats, but where human activities like research, tourism, or grazing (limited) may be permitted.
Important Wildlife Sanctuaries
| Wildlife Sanctuary | State | Notable For |
|---|---|---|
| Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur) | Rajasthan | Migratory birds |
| Periyar Sanctuary | Kerala | Elephants |
| Chilika (Nalaban) | Odisha | Flamingos, aquatic birds |
| Manas Sanctuary | Assam | Elephants, Tigers |
| Wayanad Sanctuary | Kerala | Elephants, Panthers |
Memory Trick: "Kind People Care More Wildly"
(K = Keoladeo, P = Periyar, C = Chilika, M = Manas, W = Wayanad)
Biosphere Reserves
Definition & Zones
A Biosphere Reserve is a large ecosystem that includes National Parks, Sanctuaries, and human settlements to promote both conservation and sustainable living.
Core Zone
Strictly protected (no human activity)
Buffer Zone
Limited activity (research, tourism)
Transition Zone
Settlements, agriculture, human interaction
Important Biosphere Reserves
| Biosphere Reserve | State | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri | TN–Kerala–Karnataka | Oldest reserve (1986) |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal | Mangroves & Tigers |
| Nanda Devi | Uttarakhand | Himalayan ecosystem |
| Pachmarhi | Madhya Pradesh | Satpura forests |
| Gulf of Mannar | Tamil Nadu | Marine biodiversity |
Memory Trick: "Nice Sunny Nature Protects Growth"
(N = Nilgiri, S = Sundarbans, N = Nanda Devi, P = Pachmarhi, G = Gulf of Mannar)
Distribution Summary
Himalayan Region
Nanda Devi, Valley of Flowers
Central India
Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pachmarhi
Western India
Gir, Ranthambhore, Keoladeo
Eastern India
Sundarbans, Kaziranga, Manas
Southern India
Nilgiri, Periyar, Gulf of Mannar
Memory Tricks & Quick Recap
Memory Tricks:
Order of Protection
"Now Study Biodiversity"
(N = National Park, S = Sanctuary, B = Biosphere Reserve)
Human Activity
National Park → No people
Sanctuary → Some people
Biosphere → Both people and nature
Quick Recap:
Jim Corbett is the first National Park of India
Gir is the only home of Asiatic Lions
Nilgiri is the oldest Biosphere Reserve
Exam Tip: In Delhi Police & SSC-level exams, 1–2 questions always come from:
First National Park, Famous animal–park matching, Largest or unique Biosphere Reserve
Practice Questions (Delhi Police PYQ-style)
The first National Park established in India is —
Options: A) Kanha National Park B) Jim Corbett National Park C) Gir National Park D) Kaziranga National Park
Category: National Parks
Show Answer
B) Jim Corbett National Park
The only home of the Asiatic Lion is —
Options: A) Gir National Park B) Kaziranga National Park C) Kanha National Park D) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Category: Wildlife Conservation
Show Answer
A) Gir National Park
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is spread over which states?
Options: A) Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu B) Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu C) Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa D) Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
Category: Biosphere Reserves
Show Answer
A) Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
The main purpose of a Biosphere Reserve is —
Options: A) Wildlife hunting B) Tourism C) Conservation with sustainable use D) Mining and industrial growth
Category: Conservation Concepts
Show Answer
C) Conservation with sustainable use
The Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is known for —
Options: A) Snow Leopard B) One-horned Rhino C) Royal Bengal Tiger D) Asiatic Lion
Category: Wildlife Conservation
Show Answer
C) Royal Bengal Tiger
Summary Points
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