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Wildlife in India

Natural wealth is the mirror and asset of a country. The wildlife in India is very vivid; spread as the colours of diverse cultures. The unique, mysterious and amazing natural wealth of the Indian subcontinent is loved by Wildlife Enthusiasts.

Around 400 varieties of mammals, 1250 species of birds and 10,000 types of insects and 2546 variety of fish, 197 species of amphibians and 450 reptile species are found in India.

Mammals in India

Popular mammals include the Elephant, Lion, the Royal Bengal Tiger, Rhinos, Wild buffaloes, massive Indian bisons, hyenas, wild pigs, jackals, foxes, wolves, deer, antelope species, monkeys etc.They are distributed unevenly according to climatic conditions in the specific regions like Elephants are found in the sparsely populated hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Orissa, Lions in the rocky hills and Gir forests of Gujarat, Tigers in the Sunderbans and the Brahmaputra valley and Wild ass in Rajasthan.

Avi-faunas in India

Bird-Life in India are rich and colorful and thousands of migratory birds add up to the charm. About 1250 species and sub-species of colorful birds are found in India. Indian forests are home to large hornbills, serpent eagles and fishing owls, Parrots, the national bird of India, peacock as well as water birds, herons, ibises, storks, cranes and pelicans.

Reptiles in India

The wildlife also include reptilian fauna. India has over 450 species of reptiles and amphibians. The magnificent king cobras, Kraits, pythons, crocodiles, large freshwater tortoises and monitor lizards are found here. The prominent species of 10,000 insect species found in India includes praying mantis, Idiopid spider, Scorpions, locusts, bees, silkworms and the Lac insect.

National Parks and Sanctuaries

India has a rich variety of wild animals found in forests. Some of the animals have extincted and some are endangered. Government of India established 97 national parks, more than 500 sanctuaries and 28 tiger reserves to conserve endangered species of animals. These national parks cover total land area of 38,029.18 kmĀ².

Some of the famous national parks and Sanctuaries are listed below with their home state and land area covered with the year in which they were established.

Famous National Parks in India


S.No. National Parks State Year in Which Established Area(in Sq.Km)
1. Gir National Park Gujarat 1975 258.71
2. Bandhavgarh National Park Madhya Pradesh 1982 448.85
3. Corbett National Park Uttarakhand 1936 520.82
4. Dudhwa national Park Uttar Pradesh 1977 490.29
5. Ranthambore National Park Rajasthan 1980 392
6. Kaziranga National Park Assam 1974 471.71
7. Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh 1955 940
8. Nagarhole National Park Karnataka 1988 643.39
9. Sundarbans National Park West Bengal 1984 1330.10
10. Manas National Park Assam 1990 500
11. Bandipur National Park Karnataka 1974 874.20
12. Sultanpur National Park Haryana 1989 1.43
13. Sariska National Park Rajasthan 1979 800
13. Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh
13. Dachigam National Park Jammu Kashmir
13. Mudumalia Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
13. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka
13. Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka
13. Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary Goa
13. Pench National Park Madhya Pradesh
13. Kumarakom Bird Sancuary Kerala
13. Himalayan National Park Himachal

Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries in India


S.No. Sanctuaries State Year in Which Established Area(in Sq.Km)
1. Bharatpur Bird Sactuary Rajasthan 1971 29
2. Sariska Tiger Park Rajasthan 1955 800
3. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala 1950 (as sactuary) 1978 (as tiger reserve) 777
3. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala 1950 (as sactuary) 1978 (as tiger reserve) 777

Wildlife Safari

A variety of safaris are available in these national parks for tourists to see and watch wild animals in their natural habitat. Forest department conducts Jeep & Elephant Safari in Bandhavgarh to give an opportunity for enjoying the wildlife. Similarly Jeep Safari in Corbett National Park and in Gir Sanctuary is the best approach to observe the big cats at dawn and dusk prowl.