The Sheikha Jheel Bird Sanctuary located in Koil tehsil of Aligarh district in the Western part of the State of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most significant birding grounds associated with Upper Ganga River in area. Extending between N 27°51’22.567” E 78°12’50.884” to N 27°51’28.661” E 78°13’13.986”, the sanctuary falls administratively in the Aligarh revenue district of Uttar Pradesh State, covering an area of 40.309 ha. It is a fresh water perennial water body that came into existence after the formation of the Upper Ganges Canal in 1852 which flows adjacent to the lake. The site produces a mosaic of ecological niches resulting in diversity of flora and fauna and therefore supports a large number of avian and non-avian species. The biodiversity of the site is represented by 249 species of birds in addition to many reptilian and mammalian species. Sheikha Jheel Bird Sanctuary includes a lake called Sheikha Jheel encapsulated by the surrounding dry deciduous forest. It is home to several threatened taxa which includes two endangered and one vulnerable species of turtles, four vulnerable species of birds. The site regularly supports 62 water bird and wetland dependent species. Among other animals, the sanctuary supports a population of and Indian Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctate), Indian Soft Shelled Turtle(Nilssonia gangetica), Spotted Pond Turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii), Russell\\\'s Sand Boa (Eryx conicus), Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii), , Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Jackal (Canis aureus), Monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis), Jungle cat (Felis chaus,) and Porcupine (Hystrix indica). The site has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA-IN-UP-21) based on criteria A1 (threatened species) and A4i (>1% of the biogeographic population) of Birdlife International. The Sanctuary was notified under section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 by the Government of Uttar Pradesh vide government order no. 407/14-4-2016-57/2015 dated 08.02.2016.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent nonavian animal species.