Wildlife in Rajasthan

Ranthambore National Park is located at a distance of 158 km from Jaipur in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. It engulfs an area about 392 sq km, neighbouring Mansingh and Keoladeo Sanctuary. It is the biggest National park in Northern India and one of the most promising alluring Wildlife Tourist spot in India. The Ranthambore National Park is best known for the tiger population and is one of the perfect destinations in India to witness the majestic predators in the jungle living naturally. It is the only reserve in the region where the tigers can be easily witnessed at any point of time. This is the reason why the region is superbly famous for the tiger tours. The park comprises of the trees like Imli, Babul, Banyan, Ber, Dhak or Chila , Dhok, Jamun ,Kadam ,Khajur and Khair.
Leopard, Jungle cat, Fishing cat, Caracal and different kinds of cats are found in Ranthambore. Other predators such as Sloth Bear, Jackal, Striped Hyena, Palm civet, Desert fox, crocodile, common mongoose, python, etc. Varied species of deer like antlers (two kinds), sambhar, chital (spotted deer) and antelopes (two kinds), nilgai or
bluebull and chinkara or Indian Gazelle are also found in Ranthambore. Crocodiles can be seen basking around the lakes, serpent eagles, vultures and waterfowl along with 300 species of birds including large Cormorant, Sarus Crane, Painted Spurfowl, Sandpiper, Bronzed winged Jacana, Kingfisher, Painted Sandgrouse, Nightjar, Great horned owl and other migratory which comes to Ranthambore and surrounding areas, will enhance the wildlife experience of the visitors. Ranthambore is an ideal place for bird watchers, nature lovers and wildlife photographers and seems to be a paradise for them.

Sariska National Park located in Alwar, is one of the important national parks in Rajasthan, covering an area of 866 sq. kilometre enriched wih variety of flora and fauna but it is famous for ‘Tiger population’ and ‘Tiger Reserve Project’ and encircled ‘Siliserh Lake’ and ‘Jai Samand Lake’, which houses varied crocodiles, water snakes and different creatures of land and water is really enticing and treats for many wildlife lovers and photographers.
Sariska embeds forest area in the entire western Aravali hills which is enriched with flora. Sariska National Park proposes a enticing opportunity to watch wildlife in their natural habitat. Extent over an area of 800 sq. kilometres, this wonderful park amazed tourists with animals like leopards, sambhar, jungle cats, hyenas, deer, chinkaras, antelopes, wild boars, bison, nilgai, mongoose and porcupine. No doubt tiger population and various reptiles and snakes complete the fauna of the national park.

Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, located in Bharatpur is a famous fauna sanctuary that hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to be resident. It is also a major tourist center with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a World Heritage Site. Bharatpur National Park is an artificial wetland which was used as a hunting ground by the royals. The park gets its name, Keoladeo from Keoladeo Temple located inside the boundary. It comprises of woodlands, swamps, wetlands, dry grasslands and others. Siberian Crane, Indian Darter, Indian Saurus crane, heron, cormorants, storks, migrant ducks, common teal, gadwall, Indian shag, white spoonbill, green sandpiper, are some water birds that can be spotted here. Some mammals to spot are Nilgai, chital deer, white sambar, Indian porcupine, small Indian mongoose, jungle cat, fishing cat, Asian palm civet, smooth coated otter. Some land birds are are osprey, short-toed eagle, greater spotted eagle, crested serpent eagle, sea eagle.

Desert National Park, situated in Jaisalmer embedded an area of 3,000 square kilometres, is home to a number of exotic animal and bird species in a vast variety including chinkara, black buck, sand grouse, desert fox and cat, desert gerbil, fringe-toed agama eagles and blue bull. The delicate biological system of the Thar bolsters an interesting and differed natural life. In this huge sea of sands lies the celebrated Desert National Park, which gives a brilliant case of the biological community of the Thar Desert and its assorted natural life adventure. Scores of travellers visit the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer with the goal that they can catch a glimpse of the beautiful sand hills and fascinating creature species amidst desert scenes. It is arranged in Rajasthan and shows the momentous biological biodiversity of the famous Thar Desert.
Some of the mammals found there are Great Indian Bustard, Falcons, Eagles, Vultures, Camel, Desert Fox, Bengal Fox, Chinkara, Wolf, Desert Cat, Blackbuck, Hedgehog, Nilgai, etc.

Mukundra Hills National Park is also known as Darrah wildlife Sanctuary. Darrah wildlife Sanctuary is located in Rajasthan. The sanctuary is located to the southeastern border of the town Kota. The densely wooded Darrah Sanctuary is spread all over the hilly terrain. The forest of the sanctuary is very thick and dense. The park is situated between two parallel mountains viz. Mukundra and Gagrola which run across a length of about 80 km (from Murlipura to Rawatbhata). The four rivers which form the boundary of this valley are Ramzan, Ahu, Kali and Chambal. The name Darrah is taken as the ‘pass’ in the local language revealing the purpose that the region served earlier. The Marathas, Rajput’s and the British utilized the opportune position of the forest to seek asylum during war. Panther, Sloth bear, Wolf, Leopard, Chinkara, Spotted deer, Wild boar, Antelope, Sambar, Nilgai, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle cat etc, species of birds and reptiles are also found here.

Jhalana Leopard Safari Park, situated right in the heart of Jaipur city closer to Airport, Jhalana slowly is becoming a highly recommended destination to spot leopards in wild. This place is home to 15-16 leopards out of which 6-7 leopards have their territory in tourism area It’s a picturesque forest surrounded by the city on all sides, yet of park. offers ample opportunities to have a glimpse of its splendid elusive predator. Apart from leopards, Jhalana has other wildlife as well such as the striped hyena, desert fox, golden jackal, chital, Indian palm civet, spotted deer, jungle hare, desert gerbil, blue bull, rhesus macaques, and the mammalian squad. The reserve is a birder’s delight as well, with a huge variety of avifauna that you can spot including the Indian pitta, dusky eagle, owl, spotted owlet, Asian paradise flycatcher, golden oriole, Eurasian sparrow-hawk, shikara, nightjar and white-bellied drongo. Jhalana is perfect for any body who wants to indulge in off-roading, nature trails, wildlife and big cat safaris. An open gypsy safari is a great way to experience the wild with the Aravalli’s as your backdrop.