What is the exact difference between a National Park and a Wildlife Sanctuary?

Question

Is the former not owned by the government? Both protect animals, right? - So where's the difference?

Answer 1

A national park is a reserve of land, usually, but not always declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. National parks are a protected area of IUCN category II. The largest national park in the world is the Northeast Greenland National Park, which was established in 1974.

A wildlife refuge may be a naturally-occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition. 'Wildlife Refuge' is also one of the many titles given to protected areas, and refers to a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected which is also commonly known as Wildlife Sanctuary . Such wildlife refuges are generally officially designated territories, created by government legislation, though the land itself may be publicly or privately owned. Also, the Chernobyl nuclear accident site has also accidentally become a wildlife refuge.

for more details visit: www.en.wikipedia.org and search for above

Answer 2

national park is a large area where one or several ecosystems exist and where animal species are kept for special educative and recreative interests and Wildlife sanctuary is similar to national park,but is dedicated to protect wildlife

Answer 3

Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area where endangered species are guarded and protected under the law.  National Park is more or less like a Zoo.

Answer 4

In the US, a National Park must be designated by law and contain signficant natural features that are more or less unique and deserve to be protected.  Most of the time, the feature(s) being protected/promoted is obvious.   Along with the feature, everything else in the park is protected and must not be removed, defaced, etc.

  A Wildlife Sanctuary is primarily an area where certain wildlife thrives because of conditions of water, land, shelter, location, etc.  It may have nothing unique, just stuff that needs saving from being buried under houses and concrete.   There are various names (refuge, National Forest) and various rules as to whether people can live in the space, etc.