Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary
| Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Location in Rajasthan, India Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary (India) | |
| Location | Sawai Madhopur District, Rajasthan, India |
| Nearest city | Sawai Madhopur |
| Coordinates | 26°02′N 76°30′E / 26.033°N 76.500°E |
| Area | 103 km² |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | Rajasthan Forest Department |
Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife area in eastern Rajasthan, India. Located in Sawai Madhopur district, covering approximately 103 km², it forms the southern buffer of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and supports a rich assemblage of dry deciduous flora and fauna.[1][2]
Overview
Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary lies at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges and provides critical habitat connectivity within the Ranthambore landscape. It shelters Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris), Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca), sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), and numerous ungulate and bird species.[3][4]
History
The forests of this region were once royal hunting grounds of the Jaipur and Karauli states. In 1955, the area was designated as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary. A core area of 282 km² was notified as Ranthambore National Park in 1980. In 1984, the 130 km² southern tract was formally constituted as Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary, named in honour of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur.[5]
Geography
Situated within the Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous ecoregion, the sanctuary’s gently rolling sandstone ridges, seasonal streams and waterholes lie between the Banas River to the north and the Chambal River to the south. Altitudes range around a few hundred metres above sea level. The climate is subtropical semi-arid: hot summers (up to 46 °C), cool winters (down to 2 °C) and 800–900 mm of monsoon rainfall (June–September).[6]
Flora and Fauna
The sanctuary’s vegetation is dominated by dry mixed deciduous forest: species include Anogeissus pendula (dhok), Butea monosperma (dhak), Acacia nilotica (kikar), Boswellia serrata (salai), Terminalia tomentosa (saj), and various Ficus spp. Understory grasses and scrub like Lantana camara flourish post-monsoon.
Large mammals include:
- Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
- Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
- Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
- Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
- Chital (Axis axis)
- Sambar (Rusa unicolor)
- Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)
- Chinkara (Gazella bennettii)
- Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)
- Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus)
Over 300 bird species have been recorded, including Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), various partridges, sandgrouse, and migratory waterfowl. Reptiles such as mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) inhabit pools, alongside snakes like the Indian cobra (Naja naja).[7][8]
Access
Access is via Sawai Madhopur—connected by rail (Sawai Madhopur Junction) and road to Jaipur (150 km) and Delhi. The sanctuary itself has no separate entry gate; visitors join Ranthambore Tiger Reserve safaris which may traverse SMS zones. The best visiting season is October–March. Safari permits and wildlife tours are managed by the Forest Department from Sawai Madhopur.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Pilgrims risk becoming prey in Rajasthan's Ranthambore tiger territory". The Times of India. 2025-04-20. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ Sangeetha, Jeyabalan; Thangadurai, Devarajan; Ching, Goh Hong; Islam, Saher (2019-04-30). Biodiversity and Conservation: Characterization and Utilization of Plants, Microbes and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development and Ecosystem Management. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-429-75906-2.
- ^ "Vanishing stripes: 25 of 75 tigers missing from Ranthambore park". The Times of India. 2024-11-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ Sharma, Laxmi Kant; Raj, Alok; Sharma, Shweta (2025-01-15). The Aravalli Range's Past, Present and Future Prospects: India's Natural Green Wall. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-0364-1699-7.
- ^ "Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary Sawai Madhopur- Wildlife Sanctuaries In Rajasthan India". Rajasthan Direct. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary in Sawai Madhopur in the state of Rajasthan".
- ^ Pendharkar, Vrushal (14 February 2021). "Conserving the caracal, one of India's rarest wild cats | Mint". Live Mint.
- ^ Singh, V.; Shrivastava, A. K. (2007-05-01). Biodiversity of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve Rajasthan. Scientific Publishers. ISBN 978-93-87307-89-6.
- ^ "Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary - WildTrails | The One-Stop Destination for all your Wildlife Holidays". wildtrails.in. 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ https://forest.rajasthan.gov.in/content/dam/raj/forest/rajasthan-wild-life/pdf/activities/National%20Parks%2C%20Wildlife%20Sanctuaries%2C%20Conservation%20Reserves%20and%20Community%20Reserves/Sanctuaries/SAWAI%20MANSINGH.docx