Protected areas of West Bengal

• Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary
• Buxa Tiger Reserve
• Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gorumara National Park
• Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jaldapara National Park
• Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary
• Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
• Neora Valley National Park
• Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pakhi Bitan Wildlife Sanctuary
• Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary
• Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Singalila National Park
• Sundarban Biosphre Reserve
• Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve
• West Sundarban Wildlife Sanctuary

A number of endangered animals live in the forests of the Dooars like Bengal tiger, and Indian rhinoceros. Other animals are Indian elephant, chital, sambar (deer), clouded leopard, Indian leopard, and gaur. Some birds are Indian peacock and great Indian hornbill. Reptiles include the Bengal monitor, Indian Python, Indian cobra, and reticulated python. Bear species like sloth bear and Himalayan black bear live up north. The red panda, rhesus macaque, grey langur, and binturong are some arboreal creatures, and swine include pygmy hog and Indian boar. Indian fox, Indian wolf, and spotted linsang are some of the predators besides tigers. The hispid hare is a very rare species which is found here. Leopard cat and Asian golden cat have been recorded. Up north, Himalayan tahr, Bhutan takin, Himalayan goral, and Himalayan serow are found. In rivers, mugger crocodiles and gharial have been seen. In lakes, Eurasian spoonbill, brahminy duck, storks, such as painted stork, Indian cormorant, Red-naped ibis, kingfisher, and predatory birds like vultures and eagle species have been discovered. The Buxa Tiger Reserve is famous for butterflies, like Indian cabbage white, while Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary is the last refuge for tylototriton verrucosus (Himalayan salamander or newt). Pokhari Lake supports species of catfish. In addition to the Bengal tiger, the Sundarbans host many other endangered species like the Ganges river dolphin, northern river terrapin, saltwater crocodile, and mudskipper.[6] The mangrove forest also acts as a natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along the Bay of Bengal.[6]

From a phytogeographic viewpoint, the southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two regions: the Gangetic plain and the littoral mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.[8] The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain compounded with favorable rainfall make this region especially fertile.[8] Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state shares floristic similarities with the plants of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the adjoining state of Jharkhand.[8] The predominant commercial tree species is Shorea robusta, commonly known as sal. The coastal region of Purba Medinipur exhibits coastal vegetation; the predominant tree is the Casuarina. The most valuable tree from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous sundri (Heritiera fomes) from which the forest gets its name.[9] Vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation and precipitation. For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars, are densely wooded with Sal and other trees of the tropical evergreen type.[10] Above 1000 m, the forest type changes to subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1500 m, common trees typifying the temperate forest are oaks, conifers, and rhododendrons.[10]