Parks and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar
Get here a comprehensive and up-to-date list of all the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuary in the state of Bihar. This note is a part of our Bihar General knowledge / Bihar GK series.
This point-wise summary note will help you to learn and gain knowledge. This will be helpful for you to crack the upcoming BPSC, CDPO, and other competitive exams.
Introduction
- Bihar is an Eastern Indian state with fertile plains and the river Ganga flowing right through the middle of it.
- In Ancient India, the state was considered as a pioneer in education, learning and culture.
- Major empires rose from the plains of Bihar and left behind relics of their legacy.
- Also known for its bio-diversity, let us look at the National Parks (or Wildlife sanctuaries) in Bihar.
List of Parks and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar
Valmiki National Park Wildlife Sanctuary
- Valmiki national Park was established in 1989 and covered across 340 sq km.
- Earlier it was a wildlife sanctuary (area is 550 sq km.) till 1978.
- It is located at West Champaran district of Bihar.
- This park is famous for the Royal Bengal Tigers, rhinoceros and bison.
- Huge numbers of flying fox i.e a kind of bat are also observed here.
- It has vast grass land and a large number of wild cats move across this land. The best time to visit here is winter.
Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary
- Established in 1992 and covered up across 1350 sq km area.
- It is located at Kaimur Hills range (Kaimur District of Bihar) where beautiful lakes are present.
- This is the largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar.
- It is famous for Black Buck.
- The best time to visit here is also winter season because many species specially the birds come here and enhance the beauty of this sanctuary.
- This is also famous for historical terracotta painting, caves etc.
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary
- Rajgir or Pant Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Nalanda Forest Division
- Covering an area of 35.84 km2 under the Nalanda district administration
- This Wildlife Sanctuary represents a remnant patch of forests nestled in the picturesque Rajgir hills within the South Gangetic Plain.
- This sanctuary provides numerous ecosystem services to the surrounding landscape including varieties of flora and fauna.
- Therefore, to protect this forest a 35.84 km2 was notified as Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978.
- The sanctuary is enclosed by five peaks of the Rajgir hills that form a natural boundary, separating the sanctuary from the surrounding landscape of agricultural fields, habitation, roads and villages.
- These five peaks are Vipulgiri (1), Ratnagiri (2), Udaigiri (3), Sonagiri (4) and Baibhavgiri (5).
- To the north of the sanctuary is located the Pachanan and Saraswati rivers as well as the town of Rajgir.
A survey of wildlife found 28 species of larger mammals, over 183 species of birds, 39 species of reptiles, 11 species of amphibians, 13 species of fishes, 51 species of butterflies and 6 species of scorpions. Varied diversity and abundance of wildlife that is characteristic of this region, and the range of habitats and ecosystems found in Rajgir WLS.
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary
- As its name suggests that Vikramshila Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its Dolphins.
- It is established in 1991 and is located at the Bhagalpur district of Bihar.
- Not only Dolphins but its biodiversity is also rich in its aquatic wildlife.
- It is spread over 55 sq km.
- The total number of Gangetic dolphins in the world is approximately 1500, but half of them are found here.
Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary
- Established in 1987 and located at Begusarai district of Bihar.
- It is spread across 70 sq km.
- Kabar Taal Lake increase its importance, which is the largest Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake.
- This is a famous place for the bird lovers.
- This is the home of thousands of birds.
Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary
- Established in 1976 and spread over 140 sq km
- Situated in the Gaya district of Bihar & Koderma district of Jharkhand.
- Leopards and elephants are important animals.
- The refuge covers portions of the Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests and Chota Nagpur dry deciduous forests ecoregions.
- Plant communities include dry and moist sal (Shorea robusta) forests, ravine thorn forest, and tropical dry riverine forest.
- Fauna include tigers, leopards, wolves, sloth bears, chitals, chinkaras, and many species of birds.
Nagi Dam Wild Life Sanctuary
- Nagi Dam Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Jamui District,
- Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary is the smallest bird sanctuary in Bihar.
- It is spread over an area of about 2 sq km near Jhajha.
- The birdwatchers can identify a large variety of migratory birds.
- Flora: Dry moist and sal forest, Mixed Deciduous forest and thorn forest.
- Fauna: Mahuadwar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to Leopard, Jungle Cat, Chinkara, Cheetal and many spices of terrestrial and aquatic birds.
Nakti Dam Bird Sanctuary
- The Nagi Dam (791 ha) and Nakti Dam (332 ha) are two sanctuaries so close to each other that they can be taken as one bird area.
- Nagi is 7 km from Jhajha in the district Jamui, and Nakti is a further 4 km from Nagi, occupying similar habitat.
- These notified sanctuaries are surrounded by rocky hillocks, formed by the damming of streams.
- Both these water bodies are quite deep, with a clear water surface.
- These dams were built to supply water to local farms.
- There are cultivable lands adjacent to both the water bodies.
Udaypur Wildlife Sanctuary
- Udaypur Wildlife Sanctuary (also spelled Udaipur) is a wildlife sanctuary located in West Champaran district of Bihar state, India.
- It was established in 1978, and covers an area of 8.74 km².
- The wildlife sanctuary is predominantly wetland, located on an oxbow lake in the floodplain of the Gandaki River.
- It is home to a variety of water birds, both resident and migratory.
- The sanctuary has areas of swamp forest, dry riverine forest, and khair-sissoo forest (Acacia catechu-Dalbergia sissoo).
- It is in the Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests eco region.
- The sanctuary has a rest house. The nearest town and railhead is Bettiah.
- The sanctuary is under the authority of the Deputy Director of the Champaran Forest Division, headquartered in Bettiah.
Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary
- Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 and covers across 700 sq km, situated in Munger district of Bihar state.
- Bhimbandh is situated south of the Ganges River, at the northern edge of Chota Nagpur Plateau and west of Santhal Pargana.
- It is surrounded on all sides by densely inhabited non-forestry areas.
- In the valley portions and at the foothills are several hot springs of which the finest are at Bhimbandh, Sita Kund and Rishi Kund.
- All the hot springs maintain nearly almost the same temperature all year round.
- Of them, the Bhimbandh springs have the hottest temperature (52 °C to 65 °C) and discharge (0.84-1.12 cum/sec).
Revision Notes – List of National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar
| National Park / Sanctuary | District | Established/ Notified In (Year) | Area in Sq. Km (Km2) | Famous For |
| Valmiki National Park Wildlife Sanctuary | West Champaran | 1989 | 335.6 Km2. | – Royal Bengal Tigers, rhinoceros, and bison. – Flying fox i.e a kind of bat |
| Valmiki Wildlife (Vanya Prani)Sanctuary | West Champaran | 1976 | 880.78 km2 | – Royal Bengal Tigers, |
| Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (largest Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar) | Kaimur (Before 1991, part of Rohtas District). (Kaimur Hills range) | 1992 | 1350 Sq. Km | – Black Buck. – Also famous for historical terracotta painting, caves, etc. |
| Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary (Pant Vanya Prani Sanctuary) | Nalanda (Nalanda Forest Division) | 1978 (Notified) | 36.84 Km2 | (enclosed by five peaks of the Rajgir hills ) |
| Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary | Bhagalpur | 1990 | 0.5 Km | Famous for its Dolphins. |
| Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary | Begusarai | 1989 | 70 sq km. | – Home of thousands of birds. – Kabar Taal Lake (Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake) |
| Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary | Gaya & Koderma (Jharkhand) | 1976 | 140 sq km | – Leopard and Elephant |
| Nagi Dam Wild Life Sanctuary | Jamui (Near Jha Jha) | 1987 | 7.91 km2 | – Smallest bird sanctuary in Bihar. -large variety of migratory birds |
| Nakti Dam Bird Sanctuary | Jamui (Near Jha Jha) | 1987 | 3.32 km2 | large variety of migratory birds |
| Udaypur Wildlife Sanctuary | West Champaran | 1978 | 8.87 km² | -variety of water birds, -both resident and migratory. |
| Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary | Munger | 1976 | 700 sq km, |
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