Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary

Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary lies between latitudes 220 45’ North to 230 North and 840 30’ East to 840 45’ East Longitudes. This Sanctuary was constituted in the year 1990 for the conservation of endangered and valuable wild animals such as bear, leopard, pythons etc. Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary was notified vide Government of Bihar notification No. 1168 dated 22nd March, 1990, covering an area of 183.18 sq. km.

This Sanctuary is under the administrative control of Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division, with his head quarters at Ranchi. Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Deccan Plateau province of Chhotanagpur Plateau (6D) Biogeographic zone and it has a wide range of biodiversity.

Bear is the species of vital importance in Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary. Some of the most endangered species like leopard, mouse deer, python, pangolin, etc. are also found in this protected area. Migratory elephants are also occasionally seen in the Sanctuary area. Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary forms the catchment of many seasonal and small perennial rivers.

Protected area intercepts rainfall and help recharge ground water aquifers. The forests of this protected area protect rivers and streams against siltation by minimizing soil erosion. This protected area is home to diverse types of forests-Northern Indian Moist Deciduous Forest, Moist and Dry Peninsular Sal Forest, Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest, Aegle Forest as per Champion and Seth’s classification, which are excellent habitat for significant populations of 47 species of mammals, 124 species of birds and 700 species of flora, including bear, leopard, python, pangolin, migratory Asian elephants, etc., which are all endangered species.