{{Short description|Protected area in Himachal Pradesh, India}}
{{Short description|Protected area in Himachal Pradesh, India}}
{{AI-generated|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary
| name = Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary
Protected area in Himachal Pradesh, India
Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Established in 1994, it spans approximately 944 km² and lies at elevations ranging from 1,600 to 4,400 m above sea level.[1][2][3][4]
Geography and Environment
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The sanctuary is nestled within the snow-clad peaks of the Dhauladhar range, forming a pristine high-altitude forested landscape. The lower forest zones are dominated by Deodar, pine, spruce, oak, rhododendron, and mixed conifers. Above the treeline, alpine meadows and rocky terrain prevail, often covered in snow for much of the year.
Forests in the sanctuary comprise deodar, rhododendron, oak, pine, spruce, and other coniferous species. The diverse altitudinal range fosters a rich assemblage of plant life.[5]
The sanctuary harbors a wide array of mammals, including Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), Snow leopard (Uncia uncia), Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger), Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), Himalayan goral(Nemorhaedus goral), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex), Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Smaller carnivores such as leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes).
Additional species—including Himalayan yellow-throated marten, Himalayan mouse-hare, black-naped hare, Indian porcupine, red flying squirrel, common langur, jackal, serow, blue sheep, and snow leopard—have also been documented.[6][7]
The sanctuary is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and supports a rich array of avian species. Breeding and resident species include Himalayan monal, koklass pheasant, kalij pheasant, hill partridge, Cheer pheasant, chukar partridge, snow partridge, and Himalayan snowcock9. Raptors are also abundant, including booted eagle, golden eagle, lammergeier, crested serpent eagle, long-legged buzzard, white-eyed buzzard, and Eurasian hobby. Observations of globally threatened species such as imperial eagle, greater spotted eagle, lesser spotted eagle, white-rumped vulture, red-headed vulture, and cinereous vulture are noted.[8]
