The Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across an area of 2073 sq kms, Established in 1986, it lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing through the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor.
The original route of the river Ganga, which is now just a swampy area, is well known for the inhabitation of the Twelve-Horned Deer or the "Barasingha." The sanctuary is covered by dense forest on one side and wide expanses of grasslands with a sprinkling of forest on the other. The region inhabits the state animal, "Barasingha", in addition to Hog Deer, Cheetals, Sambar, Leopard, Wild Cat, Spotted Cat, Monkey, Spider Monkey, Fox, Wolf, Jackal, Mongoose, Bijju, Deer, Wild Hog, Hares/Rabbits, Musk-Rat, Bat, etc. The state bird, Sarus Crane, is also found here along with Pythons, Wild Otters, Cobra, Krait, Viper snakes, and a variety of fishes in the ponds and lakes. Turtles and Gangetic Dolphins are found abundant in the River Ganga besides the Crocodiles and Gharials.
Corocodile/Gharial breeding projects are being undertaken here, Local birds like Brown Partridges, Black Partridge, Quail, Lava Quail, Peacock, Pigeon, Falcon and Hawk, Spotted Bill, Crane, Eagle, Owl, White Vulture, Cuckoo, Nightingale, Kingfisher, Oriel, Golden Oriel, Mynah, Raven, Red-vented Bulbul, Seven Sister, Ashy Rain Babbler, Magpie, Robin, Sparrow, Baya, Red Robin, Parrot, etc. flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region. The water body is also inhabited by migratory birds like-Bar-headed goose, Bromines Duck, Common Teal, etc.