A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a landmark area having cultural, historic or scientific significance. To be considered, such a place has to be already recognised as a landmark area with a unique geographical or historical identity.
Being recognised as a World heritage Site helps for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored or unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence.
India has till now (2019) eight natural World Heritage Sites. Here are some stunning pictures of these areas and some of the endangered wildlife found there,
1. Great Himalayan National Park
Great Himalayan National Park was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2014. The park protects over 1,000 plant species, including many medicinal herbs, 31 mammal species and 209 bird species, as well as amphibians, reptiles and insects. Four of GHNP’s mammal species and three of its bird species are globally threatened, including the musk deer and the western horned tragopan
The Himalayan musk deer is endangered and native to the Himalayas. The musk produced by this genus of primitive deer is highly valued for its cosmetic and alleged pharmaceutical properties. Image via tibetnature.net
The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world (140,000 ha), lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Sundarbans is is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python. Image via Hindustan Times
On a gentle slope in the foothills of the Himalayas, where wooded hills give way to alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant . Seen here, the Capped Langur. Image via wikimedia
The Critically Endangered Bengal Florican is found at Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and park. Only a few hundred of the grassland birds exist. Image via wikimedia commons by Hedayeat Ullah.
Older than the Himalaya mountains, the Western Ghats are of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. Moderating the tropical climate of the region, the site presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system on the planet. It also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.
Ceropegia distincta flower in bloom at the Western Ghats. Image via wikimedia
Kaziranga is in the heart of Assam. It is inhabited by the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds. It was declared a World heritage site in 1985
The Greater Adjutant Stork is one of the most endangered species of stork found in Kaziranga.
India’s Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. It was declared a world heritage site in 1988.
Besides flowers the valley is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep.
7. Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)
This former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is one of the major wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia.
Some 364 species of birds, including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the park. Image via Tehran Times
Located at the heart of the Himalayan range in northern India (State of Sikkim), the Khangchendzonga National Park includes a unique diversity of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and spectacular, snow-capped mountains covered with ancient forests, including the world’s third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga. It became a world heritage site in 2016.
Among other animals, you will also find the Red Panda a resident of this beautiful world heritage site.
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