Jammu & Kashmir National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Ramsar Sites

City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park

• Located in Srinagar, the park is named to commemorate the Indian ornithologist Salim Ali.
• Major Fauna: Kashmiri stag (hangul) (CR), musk deer (EN), Himalayan black bear.
• Major Avifauna: Paradise flycatcher, Himalayan monal, and Himalayan snowcock.

Salim Ali (1896-1987)

• Salim Ali, an Indian ornithologist, was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys across India.
• He was a key figure behind the Bombay Natural History Society and creation of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo National Park).

Dachigam National Park

• It is located in the Zabarwan Range of Western Himlayas.
• Vegetation: Coniferous forest, alpine pastures, meadows abd scrub vegetation.
• Major Fauna: Kashmiri stag (hangul) (CR), musk deer (EN), Himalayan serow, Kashmir grey langur, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan brown bear.

Kishtwar National Park

• It is bounded to the north by Rinnay River, south by Kibar Nala catchment, east by main divide of Great Himalayas and west by Marwah River.
• Vegetation: Conifer forests, alpine scrub and meadows.
• Major Fauna: Snow Leopards, Himalayan snowcock.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Jammu & Kashmir

Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the foothills of Pir Panjal Range.
• Major Fauna: Musk deer, common leopard, barking deer.

Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in Shopian district of Kashmir.
• On the west, it is bounded by Pir Panjal pass.

Hokersar or Hokera Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar Site)

• It is a natural perennial wetland contiguous to Jhelum basin. It is an important migratory bird area.

Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary (BS)

• It is near Jammu and is known for its pheasant population.

Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located to the east of Dachigam National Park.
• Major fauna: Hangul (Kashmir Stag; CR), musk deer (EN), snow leopard (VU).

Rajparian (Daksum) Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in Anantnag district of Kashmir.
• Major fauna: Hangul (Kashmir Stag; CR), musk deer (EN).
• It is disturbed due to excessive grazing by nomadic Bakarwals.The Bakarwal are nomads of the Pir Panjal and Himalayan mountains. They are transhumants.

Ramnagar Rakha Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located near Jammu.
• Major fauna: Musk deer, brown bears, leopards.

Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar Site)

• It derives its name from the two lakes on the sanctuary.
• It is located 58 kms away from the Jammu city.

Tral Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is created in Pulwama to conserve hangul (Kashmir Stag; CR). It act as a buffer around Dachigam National Park and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary.

Trikuta Wildlife Sanctuary

• Located to the north of Jammu, it hosts the highly revered Vaishno Devi shrine.

Others

• Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Sivalik Hills to the west of Ranjit Sagar Dam (Punjab).