Photo : Lakshitha Karunarathna
Sanctuary Asia began its journey one quiet evening in 1980. Sitting around Fateh Singh Rathore’s campfire under the banyan tree outside Jogi Mahal, Ranthambhore, Bittu Sahgal made an impulsive promise to his mentor that on his return to Mumbai he would start a wildlife magazine and galvanise urban Indians in support of the country’s wilds.
The first issue rolled out in October 1981, with no business plan, no editorial experience and no capital. Since then, Sanctuary has been chronicling India’s natural history and shaping conservation discourse without having missed a single issue despite wars, social strife and economic meltdowns. It is published monthly, with every alternate month’s publication dedicated to young readers.
In 2015, the foundation was established to manipulate the magazine’s wide network of conservationists, naturalists, photographers, writers and editors who run the several projects, campaigns and events that thrive under the Sanctuary brand. The foundation’s reach spans policy, advocacy, science, on-ground support for field workers and environmental education.
At the heart of our purpose lies the conviction that the economies of nations sit on a foundation of stable ecosystems. Sanctuary envisions a world with abundant biodiversity, a sustainable climate and an equitable future for one and all.
Read the latest issue.
Explore new species discoveries and what they mean for science, conservation, and the planet’s future through the work of 10 of India’s finest naturalists in the Cover Story. Meet botanist Rajendra Shinde and remember the late Valmik Thapar. Don’t miss the hedgehog, Pale-capped Pigeon, tigress Jhumri, polar bears, and mangrove fireflies. Brilliant images detail wasps, bees, and a fine spider. Dive into the intertidal ecosystem, Great Nicobar and Kerala’s new Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill.
Encouraged by the support it received, three years after the first edition of Sanctuary Asia came out, a second magazine was launched in 1984. Sanctuary Cub is the first and still the only children’s nature magazine in India. With an aim to instill respect and concern for the environment and wildlife in young children, for many young Indians, Cub continues to be their first introduction to the wild and wonderful world of nature.
Currently edited by Tara Sahgal, Sanctuary Cub aims to inculcate in children an urgency to take action and the need to create a positive change in a society that gives little thought to its rapidly depleting biodiversity.
Read the latest issue.
Our health is connected to the health of the planet, through food. In our November 2025 Sanctuary Cub issue, we meet organic farmers, learn how foraging is such a rich option for gathering food, and wade through sugarcane fields in search of lost leopard cubs. From ants to elephants, we zoom in on the varied and rich eating habits of wild species on our planet. We explore how climate change, the ethics of raising animals for consumption, and conscious food choices can guide us to a healthy life.
