Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in West Bengal, India

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary spans 960 hectares of mixed grasslands and forests in northern West Bengal. The landscape provides habitats for elephants, leopards, and many bird species throughout the area.

Chapramari was declared a national reserve forest in 1895 under the Indian Forest Act. In 1896 the forest administrator D.H.E. Sander proposed turning it into a tourism centre. The name Chapramari Wildlife Reserve came into use in 1939, and the Government of India granted national wildlife sanctuary status in 1998.

The name joins 'Chapra', a small fish once found in the Murti and Jaldhaka rivers, with 'Mari', meaning abundance. That fish is now extinct in these waters, so the name records a food source no longer present. The sanctuary still draws birdwatchers, who come for parakeets, kingfishers and green pigeons.

The sanctuary closes each year from mid-July to mid-September because of the monsoon. National Highway 17 and the Chalsa–Bindu–Jaldhaka–Todey Tangta road run through its middle, and the drive from Siliguri takes about two hours. Malbazar, 15 km away, is the closest major rail hub; Chalsa is 7 km and Nagrakata 7.5 km off.

A railway line runs directly through the sanctuary, creating distinct management challenges for wildlife. Elephant movements and their protection are particularly affected by this infrastructure.