Baltal Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary

Baltal Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Interactive map of Baltal Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary
LocationJammu and Kashmir, India
Area203 km²
Established1987

Baltal Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Situated in the Zanskar range near Sonamarg, the sanctuary spans approximately 210 km² and ranges in altitude from 3,015 to 5,466 meters.[1][2][3]

The terrain features rugged cliffs, alpine meadows, and the prominent Thajwas Glacier. The sanctuary forms a wildlife corridor connecting with Dachigam National Park and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary. It supports endangered fauna, the Himalayan Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, and Himalayan Brown Bear. [4][5]

References

  1. ^ "Baltal Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary". Learn UPSC. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  2. ^ "Thajwas (Thajiwas) (Baltal) Wildlife Sanctuary - WildTrails | The One-Stop Destination for all your Wildlife Holidays". wildtrails.in. 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  3. ^ Raina, Irfan (2023-11-02). "MoEFCC designates Thajiwas in Sonamarg among 3 eco-fragile zones". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  4. ^ "Welcome to the Official Website of the Department of Wildlife Protection J&K". jkwildlife.com. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  5. ^ "Just about 1,000 left, race on to save endangered Himalayan brown bear". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-06.