National Parks in Jammu and Kashmir

National Parks are strictly protected areas dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Activities such as poaching, hunting, and grazing are strictly prohibited.

1. Hemis National Park

• Location: Eastern Ladakh
• Area: 3350 sq km (Largest in South Asia)
• Established: 1981
• Features:
  • Highest density of Snow Leopards in the world (also called “Snow Leopard Capital of India”).
  • Only national park in India located north of the Himalayas.
  • Contains the Hemis Monastery, a 400-year-old Buddhist monastery.
  • Indus and Zanskar rivers meet at the park’s boundary.
• Flora: Alpine forests, steppe vegetation, junipers, subalpine birch, and poplar-salix forests.
• Fauna: Snow leopard, Asiatic ibex, bharal (blue sheep), wolf, Tibetan argali, Tibetan wild ass (kiang), Himalayan marmot.
• Birds: Golden eagle, Himalayan snowcock, Tibetan snow finch, chukar.

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2. Kishtwar National Park

• Location: Kishtwar district
• Area: 425 sq km
• Established: 1981
• Objective: Conservation of Snow Leopards.
• Boundaries:
  • North – Rinnay river
  • South – Kibar nala catchment
  • East – Great Himalayas
  • West – Marwa river.
• Flora: Coniferous forests (Chilgoza pine, Himalayan cedar, Persian walnut, oak), alpine meadows, and scrub forests.
• Fauna: Snow leopard, hangul (Kashmiri stag), musk deer, Himalayan black and brown bear, serow, ibex.
• Birds: Himalayan monal, bearded vulture, white-cheeked bulbul, koklass, Indian mynah.

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3. Dachigam National Park

• Location: 22 km from Srinagar
• Area: 141 sq km
• Established: Originally protected since 1910; declared a National Park in 1981.
• Special Features:
  • Northernmost and highest-elevation reserve in the Indian subcontinent.
  • Markar Lake is a key attraction.
• Flora:
  • Over 500 species of herbs, 50 species of trees, and 20 species of shrubs.
  • Includes wild cherry, peach, apple, apricot, chinar, birch, pine.
• Fauna: Hangul (Kashmiri stag), Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, langur, Himalayan marmot, leopard.
• Birds: Monal, koklass, bearded vulture, griffon vulture, golden eagle, paradise flycatcher, kestrel.

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4. Kazinag National Park

• Location: Near LoC in Baramulla district, 70 km from Srinagar.
• Special Features:
  • Part of a Trans-Karakoram Peace Park proposal with Pakistan.
  • Created to protect the endangered Markhor Wild Goat.
• Flora: Coniferous forests, including deodar, spruce, and fir.
• Fauna: Markhor, musk deer, brown bear, black bear, Kashmir flying squirrel, leopard.
• Birds: Golden eagle, sparrow hawk, snow pigeon, pied kingfisher.
• Butterflies: Regal Apollo, Brown Argus, Common Red Apollo.

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5. Salim Ali National Park

• Location: Srinagar
• Area: 9 sq km (Smallest in J&K)
• Established: 1992
• Flora: Mangrove Shrubbery
• Fauna: Kashmiri antelope, jackal, flying fox, leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, crocodile.
• Birds: Ring dove, paradise flycatcher, Himalayan snowcock, kingfisher, Himalayan monal.

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Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department

The Wildlife Protection Department of Jammu and Kashmir was established in 1978. It is responsible for the conservation and protection of the flora and fauna of the region and manages the state’s protected areas.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Jammu and Kashmir

Wildlife Sanctuaries are protected areas that allow limited human activities. The largest sanctuary in J&K is Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary (5000 sq km).

1. Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Leh district (Cold desert region)
• Area: 4000 sq km
• Established: 1987
• Special Features:
  • Encloses Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri lakes.
  • Part of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, situated at 14,000 to 19,000 ft above sea level.
• Flora: Around 200 species of wild plants.
• Fauna: Kiang (Tibetan wild ass), snow leopard, lynx, wolf, wild dog, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan argali, wild yak.
• Birds: Black-necked crane (migratory), Brahminy ducks, brown-headed gulls.

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2. Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: 38 km from Jammu (on NH-1A)
• Area: 33.34 sq km
• Established: 1981
• Flora: Fir and pine trees.
• Fauna: Leopard, wild boar, rhesus monkey, goral, grey langur, pheasants.
• Birds: Indian mynah, blue rock pigeon, peafowl, red jungle fowl, chir pheasants, chakor.

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3. Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Anantnag district
• Area: 425 sq km
• Established: 1987
• Special Features:
  • Includes Overa-Aru Biosphere Reserve (biodiversity hotspot).
  • Altitude 3000 – 5425 m above sea level.
• Flora: Coniferous forests (blue pine, fir, spruce), alpine scrubs, medicinal plants (Indian atees, Himalayan arnebia).
• Fauna: Kashmir red deer (hangul), Kashmir musk deer, Asiatic ibex, Himalayan serow, common leopard, Asiatic black bear, Himalayan brown bear.
• Birds: 120 species, including endangered Egyptian vulture, Kashmir flycatcher, European roller.

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4. Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Leh district (Eastern Karakoram range)
• Area: 5000 sq km (Largest in J&K)
• Established: 1987
• Flora: Sparse vegetation, but includes important medicinal plants like Arnebia euchroma, Bergenia stracheyi.
• Fauna: Tibetan gazelle, Himalayan ibex, bharal, wild yak, snow leopard, lynx, wolf, red fox, Himalayan mouse hare, common otter, woolly hare, Ladakhi urial, double-humped camel.
• Birds: Gadwall, tufted duck, goosander, booted eagle, golden eagle.

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Other Notable Sanctuaries

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Government Initiatives for Wildlife Protection

1. Project Snow Leopard (2009)
   • Launched in Trans-Himalayan regions including J&K.
   • Focus: Conservation of snow leopards and prey species.
2. Project Hangul (1970s)
   • Aim: Protecting Hangul (Kashmir Stag).
   • Captive breeding center at Shikargarh (non-functional).
3. Markhor Recovery Program (2009)
   • Focus: Markhor wild goat conservation.

• Implemented in Hirpora, Lachipora, Limber Wildlife Sanctuaries.

List of Conservation Reserves by District