Talra Wildlife Sanctuary

Talra Wildlife Sanctuary lies in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, about 92 km from Shimla, and has been protected since 1962. It covers some 40 sq km and climbs from 1,500 to 3,324 metres. An eco-sensitive zone around it has been notified by the Union environment ministry.

The forest mixes trees of both the upper and lower Western Himalayas: dense stands of oak and fir, along with deodar, bhoj patra, rai and rakhal. Animals recorded here include leopards, the Himalayan black bear, serow, porcupine, barking deer, the Himalayan palm civet, flying squirrels and the Eurasian sparrowhawk. The sanctuary is also said to shelter the snow leopard, which is very rare in this region.