Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Abohar, Punjab India

Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary was notified provisionally in 1975 and finally in 2000 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It is a private sanctuary unlike almost all other sanctuaries that are on public or government land. Its area is 186.5 km2 (72.0 sq mi). The sanctuary is spread over land of thirteen villages inhabited by the Bishnoi community. The forest in the sanctuary is a tropical dry mixed deciduous forest. Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique success story of wildlife conservation where Bishnoi community on its own has joined hands to protect the black buck deer that they consider sacred. The population of black buck has risen to more than 3,000 which is the largest free roaming group surviving in the Punjab plains. Watching the herds of this beautiful deer in the wild and even in homes like cattle is a feast to the eyes. A variety of other animals such as Blue Bull (Neel Gai), wild boar and porcupine can also be seen. These animals are protected by villagers as they do not let hunters kill them.