Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in Darjeeling district, India.
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected reserve in the Darjeeling district that covers around 159 square kilometers of varied terrain. The land spans different elevations and includes rivers, mountain forests, and valleys that support diverse wildlife populations.
The sanctuary was established in 1976 to protect endangered species and their natural habitats within the eastern mountain forests. This creation was part of a broader effort across India to safeguard at-risk ecosystems.
Local communities living near the sanctuary practice forest management methods passed down through generations. You can see how people interact respectfully with the woodland while helping to protect it.
Visitors can walk along marked trails and join guided tours available during the drier months from October to May. Early mornings offer the best chance to see animals and experience more stable weather conditions.
This is one of the few places where Asian elephants and Indian leopards live together in the same forest ecosystem. This coexistence shows a working balance where large predators and herbivores share the same space.
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