Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonbhadra

Spread over an area of 9,600 hectares, Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the hillocks of Vijaygarh and Naugarh in the Vindhya Range in Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh.

The sanctuary was set up in May 1957 and three Asiatic lions were brought in the first instance in 1958. They multiplied to 11 by the end of 1969. Unfortunately, they disappeared by 1970.

The sanctuary is a habitat to a host of other species of wild animals. Some of these are chital, nilgai, chinkara, blackbucks, rabbit, sambhar, chausingha, monkey, porcupine, hyena, wild fox, Indian gazelle, wild cat and wild boar.

The habitat is a paradise for birdwatchers and ornithologists. It is a home to approximately 150 species of birds. The wild plants in the sanctuary comprise saagun, amaltas, mahua, koriaya, ber, tendu besides several medicinal plants.

Chandra Prabha and Kamnasha rivers running through the sanctuary host a large variety of fish in their waters. It draws huge crowds of tourists during the winter and rainy seasons when the waterfalls in the sanctuary run in full swing amidst its lush green environment.