Bir Bhunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary

Bir Bhunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area located near Bhunerheri village in Patiala district, Punjab, India. Spread over about 662 hectares, it is one of three Bir sanctuaries around Patiala. The sanctuary features dry deciduous scrub forest and supports wildlife including nilgai, wild boar, jackal, jungle cat, peafowl and other birds. Notified in 1952, it is managed by the Punjab Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation for conservation and nature education.

Visitors can expect a compact dry deciduous forest with scrub, acacia and eucalyptus plantations crisscrossed by forest tracks. The sanctuary is fenced and relatively undisturbed, offering opportunities to see nilgai, wild boar, jackals, jungle cats, monkeys, peafowl and various resident and migratory birds. There are no large tourist structures inside; the experience is primarily nature walks, wildlife viewing and birdwatching in a quiet forest setting near agricultural fields.

The Bir forests around Patiala were preserved as hunting reserves and protected forests during the princely state of Patiala. Bir Bhunerheri was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1952 under Punjab wildlife protection measures and is managed as a protected area for conservation of flora and fauna of the region.