|  Mahananda
Wild Life Sanctuary
Situated in the Darjeeling
Forest Division with a close proximity to Bagdogra
Airport (20kms) and Siliguri
Junction (10kms) the Mahananda is one of the most important
wildlife sanctuaries in North Bengal. Mahananda covers an area
of more that 150sq.km of continuous forest land and was started
in 1955 as a game sanctuary mainly to protect Gaur or Indian
Bison which was facing severe threat of extinction.
In 1959, its name was changed to Wildlife
Sanctuary in pursuance of wildlife board in India because of
its rich biodiversity. With Mahananda River flowing through
it the Sanctuary is bounded by Tista
River in the east and Hill Cart Road leading to Darjeeling
in the west. The sanctuary reaches up to an elevation of 2500ft
at Latpanchar in
Kurseong hill. The
vegetation type of this forest varies from Riverine forest of
tree like Khair-sisso-simul to huge sal and braod leaved forests.
The variation of altitude and crop pattern has naturally influenced
the composition of wildlife.
 The
sanctuary shelters a large population of migratory elephant
for a long period of time. The sanctuary has got a tremendous
importance in the forest maps of India because of a considerable
number of Bengal Tiger. Despite its small size the sanctuary
holds atleast 14 majestic animals (according to 2003 census).
Apart from these the faunal life of the Mahananda Sanctuary
comprises of gaur, leopard, spotted deer, sloth bear, barking
deer, wild dog, boar, sambar, along with smaller mammals like
porcupine, pangolin, jungle cat, leopard cat, civet etc. recently
some hullock gibbon and black capped languor have been released
in the sanctuary and they can be seen living with the company
of rhesus monkeys.
Mahananda is a home for a large number of
colourful feathered animals. The list includes several species
of babblers, wagtails, bee eaters, swallows, sun birds, rollers,
robins, fly catchers, thrush, drongo, kites, eagles, hornbills,
orioles, peacock, fouls, egrets, king fishers, wood pickers
and much more.
To help the growth of herbivorous animals
several glades have been crated at convenient spots inside the
sanctuary. These glades have artificial saltlicks where the
animals are seen coming to taste the salt in the early morning
and evening. The sanctuary has well laid forest roads, which
covers about 50kms. Apart from forest roads two national high
way (NH 51 and NH 31) cut through the sanctuary.
 A
drive or trek through the forest roads opens up places of magnificent
beauty and gives a glimpse of excellent natural and man made
forests. The watchers built beside Gulma River and at Laltong
are some ideal places to observe the grazing animals specially
elephant, gaur and deer.
The gateway to the sanctuary is Sukna on the
Siliguri-Darjeeling highway. There are two forest rest houses
at Sukna and one at Latpanchar in the northern part on the Sanctuary.
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Forests
Buxa TR
Chilapata
Gorumara NP
Jaldapara NP
Mahananda WLS
Neora NP
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