Askot Wildlife Sanctuary declared as eco-sensitive zone

• The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district has been designated an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
• As a result, the sanctuary area has been reduced from 599.93 square kilometres to 454.65 square kilometres, providing a comparatively small area for the fauna to move around.
• The Askot sanctuary was established in 2013. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 54 km north of Pithoragarh and was notified in 1986 primarily for the conservation of musk deer and other rare Himalayan species and their natural habitats.

Important Takeaways

About Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)

• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas in India designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change of the Government of India to protect Protected Areas, National Parks, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.