Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the foothills of
Himalayas, between the Teesta and
Mahananda rivers, in
Darjeeling District of
West Bengal.
Sprawling over an area of 160 sq km, it is home to various fauna including elephant, Indian bison, tiger, barking deer, rhesus monkey, leopard,
fishing cat, jungle cat, sambar (Cervus unicolor) and cheetal. The sanctuary is also a temporary home to various migratory birds in winter. Other fauna species found here include the rare mountain goat (Serow), wild pig, porcupines, civet, monitor lizard and various species of snakes.
The sanctuary lies in the western end of the elephant migration route, more than 150 elephants shelter here during the monsoon and winter seasons. The sanctuary is also noted for some enchanting trekking routes - Golaghat, Deorali and the
Latpancher - Mana track are the most sought for trekking and bird watching tours.
Sukna, about 7 km from Siliguri, is the main entry point. It also has a Nature Interpretation Center.
