Understanding India's Sanctuary Framework

Under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, India categorizes its protected areas into distinct legal tiers. While National Parks mandate strict core isolation with zero human settlement or traditional harvesting, Wildlife Sanctuaries (IUCN Category IV) allow sustainable community grazing, regulated eco-tourism, and traditional rights that do not compromise wildlife survival. Bird Sanctuaries, Marine Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves function under this sanctuary canopy, protecting critical migratory flyways, breeding colonies, and endangered flagship populations.

From the high-altitude alpine wilderness of Dibang and Kibber to the mangrove deltas of Bhitarkanika and the dry scrub of Tal Chhapar, these 84 sanctuaries protect ecosystems outside the tiger reserve framework, ensuring the survival of iconic fauna like the great Indian bustard, Indian wild ass, lion-tailed macaque, and Dugong.