Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of West Bengal. It is nestled in the Buffer zone of the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve and is one of the three wildlife sanctuaries of the Biosphere Reserve. The other two are – Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary and Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lothian Island Sanctuary forms the ninth point on the excursion of Sunderban National Park. The sanctuary is located at the confluence of Bay of Bengal and Saptamukhi River. It was established as a wildlife park in 1976.

Flora
Tropical seasonal swamp forest; Mangrove forest and scrub

Fauna
Jungle feline, Spotted Deer, Estuarine Crocodile, Sea Turtle, Olive Ridley, Otter and Rhesus macaque.

Avian Fauna
Whimbrel, Black-Capped Kingfisher, Tern, Curlew and White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

How to Get There
The nearest access town to Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary is Namkhana, nearly 30 km away. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is the closest aerodrome. The nearest railhead is about 64 km away at Diamond Harbour. The tourist can hire boat or ship from Sajnekhali to reach the sanctuary.

Tourist Information
There are no staying facilities inside the sanctuary. The tourists can stay at the Government Tourist Lodge at Sajnekhali and visit the forest in a day’s trip. Accommodation has to be booked in advance. Besides, there are other options in the nearby towns and villages of the Sunderban Reserve.
There are no facilities for jeep or elephant safaris in Lothian Island Sanctuary. Boat rides are the best way to explore the sanctuary. Littering, making loud noises and carrying pets inside the sanctuary are strictly prohibited. Carry a powerful binocular or camera to make your trip to Lothian Island Sanctuary memorable.

Additional Information
Location: Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary, South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Area: 38 sq km approx.
Best time to visit: September and May
Timings: 7.00 am to 5.00 pm
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