Wildlife Sanctuary vs National Park

National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are protected natural habitats, declared by the
government of a country according to the regulations from the IUCN (The World Conservation
Union) to preserve the wildlife through conservation of ecosystems. The restriction levels vary
within these two categories but, the principal objective of declaring protected areas is the
conservation of nature. Thus, it is important for people to understand the differences and
similarities between a national park and a wildlife sanctuary.

Wildlife Sanctuary
A wildlife sanctuary is a declared protected area, where very limited human activity is allowed.
The ownership of this type of protected are could lie in the hands of either a government or in
any private organization or person, provided the regulations are governed by the government.
Inside a wildlife sanctuary, the hunting of animals is completely prohibited. Additionally, the
trees can not be cut down for any purpose; especially the clearing of the forest for agriculture is
completely banned. However, it is not physically fenced to restrict the public from entering and
roaming inside a wildlife sanctuary for research, educational, inspirational, and recreational
purposes. The general public could use it up to a certain extent so that the sanctuary is useful for
them also. People can collect firewood, fruits, medicinal plantsetc in small scale from a
wildlife sanctuary.

National Park

National park was first introduced in 1969, by the IUCN as a mean of a protected area with a
definition. However, in the 19th century, some western naturalists and explorers have put
forward the ideas of preserving ecosystems in order to conserve wildlife without active human

interference. Additionally, those ideas have been implemented successfully despite the lack of
legislation around 1830 in USA, by declaring the Hot Springs Reservation in Arkansas. A
national park has a defined boundary, through which no person can get into the park without an
approval. Only an approved person can enter into a national park, either via paying a visitor
ticket or an approved letter from the governing body (mostly the government). The visitors can
only observe the park inside a vehicle that routes through defined trails and they can not get out
the vehicle for any reason unless there is an approved place for visitors. Photographs are allowed
but research and educational work can only be done with a prior permission. The park can not be
used for any reason viz. firewood, timber, fruitsetc. With all these regulations, the national
parks are established to conserve the natural habitats of the wild fauna and flora with a minimum
human interference.

Difference Between Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

As Adrian Philips quote in the Parks journal in 2004, the protected areas come in all sizes and
shapes and with a bewildering variety of management systems, ownership and governance
patterns. The extent of the general public could interfere with the national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries vary drastically. The national parks are more restricted for the people but earn money
that could be managed to develop nature conservation measures. In both these protected areas,
people have the access for inspirational, educational, research, and recreational purposes but,
with certain limitations in national parks. However, both wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
contribute significantly for the conservation of nature.

National Park:
1 National parks are formed by Central or State Legislation.
2. Status of National Park is higher.
3. No human habitation is permitted in man area.
4. Harvesting timbers, cultivation,collection of forest products are restricted. Eg.Corbet National
Park.
Sanctuary:
1. Sanctuaries are formed by the order of State or Central Government.
2. Status of sanctuary is lower.
3. Private ownership may be allowed.

4. These activities are allowed with permission. Eg. Chilika-Nalaban Sanctuary for migrating
birds.
What is the difference between a wildlife sanctuary and a national park?
The wildlife sanctuary is a declared protected area, where very limited human activity is allowed.
Inside a wildlife sanctuary:

The hunting of animals is completely prohibited.

The trees can not be cut down for any purpose.

The clearing of the forest for agriculture is completely banned.

People can collect firewood, fruits, medicinal plants and other stuff in small scale.

It's not physically fenced to restrict the public from entering and roaming inside a wildlife
sanctuary for research, educational, inspirational, and recreational purposes

The
National park:

Only an approved person can enter into a national park, either via paying a visitor ticket
or an approved letter from the governing body.

The visitors can only observe the park inside a vehicle that routes through defined trails.

Visitors can not get out the vehicle for any reason unless there is an approved place for
visitors.

Photographs are allowed but research and educational work can only be done with a prior
permission.

The park can not be used for any reason like. firewood, timber, fruitsetc.

The national parks are more restricted for the people but earn money that could be
managed to develop nature conservation measures

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are protected by the forest department
under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Hunting of wild animals and
destruction of habitat are prohibited.
There are three major differences between the National Parks and Wildlife

Sanctuaries. While the rest of the provisions remain same for both.
1. In a National Park human rights are completely settled, whereas in a Sanctuary
certain human rights can be allowed.
2. Livestock grazing is not allowed in a National Park, but it can be allowed in a
regulated manner in a Sanctuary.
3. A Sanctuary can be upgraded to a National Park but a National Park cannot be
downgraded as a Sanctuary.

The WLPA - Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and its subsequent amendments provides for the
definition of Sanctuaries, National Parks and Reserves vide Chapters IV, IV-A, IV-B &IV-C
covering sections 18 through 38-Z and this includes the National Tiger Conservation Authority
and its powers to declare protected areas etc. The Forest Act of India 1927 and Forest
(Protection) Act 1980 are also read together with WLPA for the definitions.
The different types of protected areas in India are as follows and their definitions are from what
has been prescribed by IUCN - International Union For Conservation of Nature. (IUCN Protected Area Categories)
1. National Parks - (List of national parks of India ) : A national park is an forest area and
if need be the surrounding areas as notified by the government established for the
protection and propagation of the flora and fauna (Plant and animals) of the area. The key
difference here when compared to a sanctuary is that a nation Park allows no human
activities inside the buffer or core zone. there maybe limited activities (other than
tourism)within the tourism zone of a National park. This comes under Category 2 of the
IUCN classification.
2. Wildlife Sanctuaries: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil...) is pretty much the same as a
national park, except that youll find indigenous people inside and human activities are
permitted. This falls under the Category 4 of the IUCN Classification.
3. Tiger Reserves: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tig...) the definition is the same as
Sanctuaries (all Tiger reserves are sanctuaries) but comes under the direct admin of the
NTCA as provided by Chapter IV B of the WLPA 1972
4. Biosphere Reserves - (Biosphere reserves of India) are notified areas which cover a
larger area of land which may cover multiple National Parks, Sanctuaries and reserves as
well. Ex. the Nilgiri Biosphere covers: Bandipur NP, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Silent
Valley NP, Wyanad WLS, Nagarhole NP, Mukurthi NP, Sathyramangalam WLS &
Reserve Forest and is usually a contiguous area. it will also include all the buffer and
tourism zones and offers protection to not only the wildlife and flora but to the
indigenous people as well. Eg. Attapadi hill tribes. Another important thing to note is that
some controlled economic activities will be permitted in these areas - like mining and
farming etc. This is a Category 5 under IUCN but will include Categories 2,3,4 in it.
Also, the concept of Biosphere Reserves was first mooted by UNESCO under the Man &
Biosphere program (MAB) and the various other protected areas of India that come under
the various laws protect in individually. AFAIK we do not have a cover on Biosphere
reserves in our laws
5. Reserve Forests - classified as two : Reserved & Protected Forests (Reserved forests
and protected forests of India) and Conservation and Community Reserves.
(Conservation reserves and community reserves of India) They are large tracts of forest
lands that could be in Buffer zones of National parks, sanctuaries etc or just within the
cities or towns - eg. Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve in Maidenahalli in Karnataka. The
example for the latter is Tiruppadaimarathur conservation reserve near Chennai District

of Tamil Nadu. The former is provided for in the Forest Act of 1927 Chapter II & IV
whereas the latter comes under the WLPA 1972 - Sec 36 A to D of Chapter IV. These fall
under categories 4,5,& 6 of IUCN Classification respectively.
6. Village & Panchayat Forests (Communal forests of India) are a Category 6 of IUCN
Classification and are forested lands that are managed and administered by a village or
panchayat (like counties or village councils) f on a sustainable basis, with the habitat and
associated wildlife including flora being given protection by the said administration, as
much within their means. Chapter III of the Indian Forest Act 1927 covers this.
7. Private Protected Areas (Private protected areas of India) is not under any IUCN
Classification, and has been provided under WLPA 1972 - 2002 Amendment and if I am
not mistaken can be read along with Chapter V of the Indian Forest Act 1927. (NOTE would like a legal expert to comment on this please) Wikipedia defines this as Private
protected areas of India refer to protected areas inside India whose land rights are owned
by an individual or a corporation / organization, and where the habitat and resident
species are offered some kind of protection from exploitative activities like hunting,
logging, etc. The Government of India did not provide any legal or physical protection to
such entities, but in an important amendment introduced by the Wildlife (Protection)
Amendment Act of 2002, has agreed to protect communally owned areas of ecological
value. The premises of ONGC in Assam is a good example of this.
8. Conservation Areas (Conservation areas of India) Conservation Areas in India refer to
well-demarcated large geographical entities with an established conservation plan, and
were part of a joint Indo-US project on "landscape management and protection". The
project ran from 1996 to 2002. These areas are home to many Conservation reliant
species. This, AFAIK, unfortunately doesn't come under any of the environmental laws,
though the Ministry of Environment & Forests and the Wildlife Institute of India were
parties to this project
As an after thought - the Chapter IV-A of WLPA provides for the CZA - Central Zoo Authority
and the innumerable Zoos in India that come under their control. (List of zoos in India) We also
have Aquaria across the country and AFAIK this too doesn't come under any law.
Written Feb 18, 2015 View Upvotes
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Tarun Rao, Business ,Startup Enthusiast, Tech Freak

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Originally Answered: What is the difference between a national park, game reserve, sanctuary
and a conservation area?
National Park:
According to Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, a National Park should be an area with enough

ecological, geo-morphological and natural significance, obviously, with rich fauna and flora.
Central Government enjoys the freedom to declare any specific area in the country a National
Park, but often based on the recommendations made the state governments. A National Park is
declared to protect, to propagate and to to develop wildlife or its environment. Actually the major
difference between a National Park and other protected areas is that the rights of the people
living inside the limits of a national Park are often tightly regulated. While grazing by livestock
inside a national park is strictly prohibited, removal of forest produce needs recommendation
from National Board of Wildlife.
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY:
Though a WLS is again an area with zoological, ecological and geomorphological importance
and with rich fauna and flora, it has certain differences with National Parks and other protected
areas in India. Despite the fact that it is declared by the Central Government to protect wildlife
and to develop natural habitats, the rights of the people living inside the limits of the sanctuary
differs very much from other PAs. Comparatively, people living inside the limits of a Wildlife
Sanctuary have more rights than their counterparts within a National Park. It is also allowed that
the District Collector, in consultation with the Chief Wildlife Warden may decide to allow the
continuation of any right during the settlement of claims.
Conservation Reserves:
Unlike NPs and WLS, a conservation Reserve is declared by state governments. Usually the area
will be owned by the government and lies near to Wildlife Sanctuaries or National Parks. These
often function as a buffer zone for a protected area or a link which connects two protected areas
together. However, an area will be declared as Conservation Reserve only after holding adequate
consultations with the local people. (In fact, that happens with the other PAs also.) There are no
regulations on the rights of the people living inside a Conservation Reserve.
Community Reserves in India
Again, declared by state government, a Community Reserve can even be privately or community
owned land declared so when an individual or community volunteers to conserve the area and its
natural fauna and flora. Apart from protecting the natural habitat and environment, Community
Reserves may also protect cultural values and practices related to the area. There are no
regulations on the rights of the people living inside a Community Reserve. Till date, there are
only four community reserves in the country - Kokkare Bellur Community Reserve in Karnataka,
Kadalundi- Vallikkunnu Community Reserve in Kerala (both are for conserving birds), Lalwan
Community Reserve and Keshopur-chhamb Community Reserves in Punjab also.
Biosphere Reserves (BRs)
Biosphere Reserves are another term which often pops up when it comes to biodiversity
conservation in India. However, unlike NPs, WLS and Community or Conservation Reserves,
BRs are larger in their areas, and are not formed according to the provisions of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972.
According to MoEF, BRs are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems which are
internationally recognized within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB)

programme of the UNESCO. Thus, Biosphere Reserves may have one more national parks or
Wildlife Sanctuaries in it.
In India, the programme was started in 1986, with which so far, 18 sites have been declared as
Biosphere Reserves (BRs). However, out of the 18 BRs, only nine has been accepted as part of
the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO. They are
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka)

Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu)
Sunderban (West Bengal)
Nanda Devi, (Uttarakhand)
Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh)
Similipal (Odisha)
Nokrek (Meghalaya)

8.
Achanakmar-Amarkantak (Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh)
9.
Western Ghats(Maharashtra and Karnataka)
India has submitted a revised nomination for Great Nicobar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) also.