Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary

{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{one source |date=April 2011}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary

| alt_name = টেকনাফ বন্যপ্রানী অভয়ারণ্য

| iucn_category = IV

| photo= File:টেকনাফ এর বন্যপ্রাণী অভয়ারণ্য.jpg

| map = Bangladesh

| map_caption = Location in Bangladesh

| coordinates = {{coord|21|04|00|N|92|09|00|E|region:BD|display=inline,title}}

| location = Teknaf, Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh

| nearest_city = Teknaf

| area = 11,615 hectare

| established = 1983

| rainfall =

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| governing_body =

| world_heritage_site =

| url =

}}

Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Cox's Bazar District of southern Bangladesh comprising a hill forest area of {{convert|11615|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}. In the east it is bordered by the Naf River, and in the west by the Bay of Bengal. It was established in 1983.{{cite journal |author=Feeroz, M. M. |author2=Hasan, M. K. |author3=Khalilullah, M. I. |date=2012 |title=Nocturnal Terrestrial Mammals of Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh |journal=Zoos' Print Journal |volume=XXVII |issue=3 |pages=21–24}} It was once called Teknaf Game Reserve and is the only game reserve forest in the country.{{cite web |url=http://communityecotour.com/Teknaf%20Game%20Reserve.html |title=Teknaf Game Reserve |website=Community Ecotourism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813215541/http://communityecotour.com/Teknaf%20Game%20Reserve.html |archive-date=13 August 2011}} This is one of the few places in Bangladesh where Asian elephants can be seen in the wild.{{cite web |url=http://www.bforest.gov.bd/teknaf.php |title=Eco-tourism in Bangladesh |website=Bangladesh Forest Department |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323055616/http://www.bforest.gov.bd/teknaf.php |archive-date=23 March 2012}} This vast sub-tropical forest has several other attractions like Nitong Hill, Kudum Cave, Kuthi Hill etc. The popular Toinga peak has an elevation of about 1000 feet. This sanctuary is rich in biodiversity.

The Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a game reserve in 1983 under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974. The climate is humid tropical monsoon. The area receives strong winds from the southwest in the summer and gentler northeastern winds in the winter. It encompasses three biological series, Surma Series, Tipam Series and Dupi Series.