Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as one of the oldest and biggest wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The sanctuary was declared as a tiger reserve in 1944 and was notified as a sanctuary in 1985. This sanctuary covers an area of around 550 sq. km and is at a height ranging between 200 and 800 m. The topography of this sanctuary ranges from wet, semi-evergreen to deciduous forest. Geography of this region comprises hills, valleys, river streams and salt licks.
This sanctuary is inhabited by various animals, including rhesus macaque, leaf monkey, tiger, elephant and wild boar. Black-bear, leopard, barking deer and porcupine are also found in this sanctuary. Various birds, migratory as well as endemic, like crested serpent eagle, emerald-dove, peacock, malbar pied hornbill and crested serpent eagle can also be spotted in the sanctuary.