Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife area in Karauli district of Rajasthan, India. It was notified in 1983 and covers approximately 676.38 kmò area. The sanctuary forms the northern extension of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and serves as a wildlife corridor between Ranthambore and the Chambal River region.
The sanctuaryâÂÂs terrain comprises rugged hills, deep gorges (locally called khos), and dry deciduous forests. The Banas River forms the western boundary, while the Chambal River lies to the southeast.
Mammal species recorded include the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), golden jackal (Canis aureus), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), chinkara (Gazella bennettii), sambar (Rusa unicolor) and chital (Axis axis). A survey estimated 19âÂÂ45 Indian grey wolves in the sanctuary. Over 200 bird species have been recorded, including kingfishers, peafowl, sandpipers and various raptors. Dominant tree species include Anogeissus pendula (dhok), Acacia catechu (khair) and Diospyros melanoxylon (tendu).
The sanctuary derives its name from the Kaila Devi Temple, located within its boundaries. The temple is an important regional pilgrimage site for Hindus and receives visitors during annual festivals.
Approximately 36âÂÂ41 villages lie within the sanctuary boundary. Local communities have traditionally depended on forest resources for fuelwood, fodder and minor forest produce. Since the late 1980s, community-led forest protection committees (kulhadi bandh panchayats) have regulated tree-felling by banning axes in the forest, collaborating with the Forest Department in co-management.