Wildlife of Punjab, India

In the Punjabi-language, the word bir refers to reserved forest or village land set aside as common pasture.^[2][4] Punjab used to have large forests and jungles, such as the Lakhi, Kahnuwan, and Macchiwara jungles, that were used by Sikhs during historical periods of open-genocide and active-oppression against them, such as under the Mughals.^[5][6] However, much of its former forests were subsequently cut-down.^[5] Although, some forest cover remains, such as at the site of sacred groves, which are associated with local religious and cultural beliefs.^[7] Sacred groves are referred to as jhidi in Punjabi and they harbour rare animal and plant species not found elsewhere in the state.^[7] There are at-least nine major sacred groves in Punjab, India.^[7] Aside from sacred groves, some remaining forest fragments can be found near Sikh gurdwaras and deras, such as Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib (Muktsar), Gurdwara Sattal Khara (Muktsar), and Dera Baba Dhyan Das (Mansa).^[8]

Punjab has the lowest forest cover as a percentage of land area of any Indian state, with 3.6% of its total area under forest cover as of 2017.^[9] A 2019 study found that 6.83% of the state's total geographic area was either under forest (3.67%) or tree cover (3.16%).^[2] In-contrast, over 83% of the area of the state was agricultural.^[2]

Under Pahar Singh of Faridkot State, the jungles that surrounded Faridkot were deforested to clear the land for development.^[10] During the Green Revolution, large tracts of jungles were cut-down in the state to make room for agriculture and forested areas were also cleared for road infrastructure and residential homes.^[9] Various NGOs are working towards afforestation and reforestation of the state by launching educational drives, planting saplings, working towards regulatory changes, and pressuring organisations to follow environmental laws.^[9] One NGO, EcoSikh, has planted over 100 forests, composed of native plant species, in the state using the Japanese Miyawaki methodology that are named 'Guru Nanak Sacred Forests'.^[11][12][13] Native plant species are facing the risk of extirpation from the state but planting mini-forests throughout the land can help prevent this from occurring.^[14] Prior to the Green Revolution, Butea monosperma (known as 'dhak' in Punjabi) trees were found in abundance in the state.^[15] RoundGlass began the localization of the Billion Tree Project in Punjab, aiming to restore indigenous plant species, such as at Baradari Bagh at Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala with a nursery at Lang village in Patiala district but other nurseries are located in Bathinda, Firozpur, Faridkot, Amritsar, and Hoshiarpur districts. The organization operates a Tree Directory that documents the location of every tree older than 50 years and has documented 319 settlements in Punjab named after trees.^[16]

A few of the rivers in Punjab have crocodiles, including reintroduced gharials in the Beas River after half a century of their extirpation from the state.^[17][18][19] Indus river dolphins can be found in the Harike Wetland.^[20] The extraction of silk from silkworms is another industry that flourishes in the state. Production of bee honey is done in some parts of Punjab. The southern plains are desert land; hence, camels can be seen. Buffaloes graze around the banks of rivers. The northeastern part is home to animals like horses. Wildlife sanctuaries have many more species of wild animals like the otter, wild boar, wildcat, fruit bat, hog deer, flying fox, squirrel, and mongoose. Naturally formed forests can be seen in the Shivalik ranges in the districts of Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. Patiala is home to the Bir forest while the wetlands area in Punjab is home to the Mand forest.^[21] The local subspecies of blackbuck, A. c. rajputanae, is facing the risk of extirpation from the state.^[22][23][24]Wildlife crime, including illegal hunting and wildlife trade, has also been identified as an emerging conservation concern in parts of Punjab.^[25][26] Botanical gardens exist throughout Punjab. There is a zoological park and a tiger safari park, as well as three parks dedicated to deer.^[21]

The state bird is the northern goshawk (baz) (Accipiter gentilis),^[27] the state animal is the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), the state aquatic animal is Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor), and the state tree is the shisham (Dalbergia sissoo).^[28]

There are a total of thirteen species (8 floral and 5 faunal) facing extinction in the state of Punjab.^[2]

• State tree: Dalbergia sissoo (Tahli/Shisham)^[2]
• State animal: Antelope cervicapra L. (Kala Hiran/Black Buck)^[2]
• State bird: Accipiter gentilis (Baaz/Northern goshawk)^[2]
• State aquatic animal: Platanista gangetica minor (Indus River Dolphin)^[2]

• Department of Forest and Wildlife (Punjab)
• Wildlife of Lahore District
• Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries department, Punjab
• Sikhism and the environment