Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary

About Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary

Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary was established to protect a critical forest block in Gumla district that forms part of the elephant movement corridor between the forests of Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Elephant herds of 10–25 individuals are the most significant wildlife presence in the sanctuary — they move through the forest seasonally and their passage through the corridor is critical for genetic connectivity of elephant populations across the three-state forest landscape. The sanctuary's 183 sq km of sal and mixed deciduous forest also supports leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, barking deer, and sambar. The birdlist includes important species of the Deccan plateau forest transition — racket-tailed drongos, crested serpent eagles, and various species of woodpecker and hornbill are regularly recorded in the forest interior. The Koel River, which rises in the Chotanagpur plateau and flows through or near the sanctuary, adds riverine habitat and associated wildlife. The sanctuary is less developed for wildlife tourism than Betla National Park (150 km north-west), which means it does not receive jeep safaris or formal wildlife viewing circuits. Access is by forest track and visits are managed through the range office in Palkot town. The primary visitor experience is forest walking with a forest department guide rather than structured wildlife drives.