A wildlife sanctuary is an area where animal habitats and their surroundings are protected from any sort of disturbance. The capturing, killing and poaching of animals is strictly prohibited in these regions.

They aim at providing a comfortable living to the animals. India has beautiful wildlife sanctuaries, with dense forests, large rivers, high and beautiful mountains. 

Tourism is not permitted in a wildlife sanctuary. People are not allowed unescorted there. The main objective of establishing a wildlife sanctuary is to educate humans as to how to treat the animals. The animals are taken care of and allowed to live peacefully in their natural habitats.

Many species of plants and animals are on the verge of extinction. Such creatures are conserved in the wildlife sanctuaries. Various sanctuaries have been established such as the Fleurieu peninsula sanctuary is maintained to protect sheoak habitat for glossy black cockatoos.

The natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir is famous all around the world. You can’t describe flora and fauna of these states with words. Besides, both these states are rich in natural resources. In the lush forests of Jammu and Kashmir, you can see the rarest wildlife species. Therefore there are a lot of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Jammu and Kashmir. These wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are created to preserve the wildlife of this region.

However, it is a bit difficult to maintain the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries at this high altitude. We all know that Jammu and Kashmir are primarily famous for their snow-covered mountains, flower-covered meadow, and lush greenery. But apart from these, the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are also worth visiting. Therefore, in this post, we will discuss the famous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Jammu and Kashmir

DACHIGAM WILDLIFE NATIONAL PARK ,SRINAGAR  ::

 Dachigam National Park is a national park located 22 kilometers (14 mi) from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on the east side of Dal Lake. It covers an area of 141 square kilometers (54 sq mi). The name of the park literally stands for “ten villages” which is in the memory of the ten villages that were relocated for its formation. These ten villages were living in this region before the World War I in the beginning of 20th century.

The park has been a protected area since 1910, first under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and later under the observation of the concerned government authorities. It was initially created to ensure a supply of clean drinking water for Srinagar. It was upgraded and declared a National Park in 1981

Topography

Dachigam National park is located in the Zabarwan Range of the western Himalayas. The variation in altitude is vast, ranging from 5500 ft to 14000 ft above mean sea level. Due to this vast variation, the park is demarcated into an uneven region. The terrain ranges from gently sloping grasslands to sharp rocky outcrops and cliffs.

The main animal species that Dachigam is
known for is the hangul,
or the Kashmir stag. Other species
include:

·        Musk deer (roose kat) ,Snow Leopard ,Himalayan serow, Kashmir grey langur

·        Kashmir stag (hangul),Leopard cat , Himalayan black bear,Himalayan brown bear

·        Jackal ,Hill fox ,Himalayan weasel ,Yellow-throated , marten ,Jungle cat

·        Long-tailed marmot ,Otter.

Birds:

·        Cinnamon sparrow ,  Black bulbul  ,  Himalayan monal

·        Golden oriole ,Minivet , Pygmy owlet ,Woodpecker

·        Babbler ,Redstart  ,Wagtail ,Koklass pheasant

·        Chough,Orange bullfinc , Kashmir flycatcher

·        Tytler’s leaf warbler  ,Streaked laughing thrush  ,Himalayan ruby throat

·        Wall creeper  ,Black-and-yellow grosbeak  ,Himalayan-griffon vulture

·        Bearded vulture , Red-billed blue magpie,Titmouse