Wildlife of India

India has been fortunate land in terms of geographical diversity in all aspect. This diversity has resulted in evolution of an amazingly diverse life forms. The country is endowed with a wide range of habitats and spectacular species pertaining to mammals, insects, reptiles and all other life forms.

The country is home to more than three hundred and fifty mammals about 1200 hundred birds species. Some of the most enchanting animals live here. There many conservation units created by the Central and State Governments to protect endangered species that were once found abundant. Most of the animals can be seen in a wild safari that is organized by the tourism industry in India.

India is a country with diverse habitats and zoo geographical zones and hence rich in both flora and fauna. The mammalian species in India is very high may be more than Africa. The tiger rules the Indian jungles and heads the food chain being a Tertiary carnivore. It is the top predator in the Indian jungles and hence an indicator species.

The most endangered animals of India are the tiger, leopard, Indian one horned rhino, snow leopard, swamp deer, hangul, brow antlered deer, the musk deer, gharial, river dolphin and wild ass. There are many animals in wild India which are just above the danger mark. It is crucial that wildlife management and conservation policies in the country are implemented properly to the save the wildlife.

There are more than three hundred fifty species of mammals in the country. The major predators or big cats are Asiatic lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard. India is the only country to have both lion and tiger in the wild. The Indian cheetah has become extinct but efforts are on to relocate them in wildlife sanctuaries in MP and Rajasthan. Both deer and antelope species are found in India. The country has many endemic species of reptiles, birds and mammals not found anywhere. India has both fresh water crocodile, salt water crocodile while the long snout Gharial is endemic found only in the Sub continent.

Best places for tiger safari are wild Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench tiger reserve. Kanha is the largest park among the three and harbors magnificent mammal species. butterflies and insects. The tiger is the top predator at Kanha and preys on the herbivores.

Kanha National Park is hundred and sixty five kilometers from Jabalpur at Madhya Pradesh in Central India. Another keystone species at Kanha is the Hard Ground Barasingha or the Swamp Deer it was saved from brink of extinction by great conservation efforts. the number has risen from 67 to over 350 animals now.

Most of the wildlife of India now survives in protected areas designated as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries with relative degree of protection. National Parks are more privileged and greater degree of protection is offered to them. National Parks under the aegis of Project Tiger a tiger conservation program are called tiger reserves. The main focus of attention in tiger reserves is the tiger and its ecosystem.

Endangered animals of the country are the tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, snow leopard, swamp deer, hangul, swamp deer, wild ass, wolf and many more. The dwindling forest cover and habitat destruction has severely threatened fauna in India. In spite of conservation efforts wildlife of India is some how surviving. Population pressure exploitation of natural resources, poaching, wood logging and more space for humans are some of the reasons.

Tiger is a keystone species and at the top of the food chains its numbers have come down from more than hundred thousand in the country to less than two thousand in the wild. The animal mow survives only in protected areas where poaching at times takes a heavy toll. All tigers in Sarika and Panna were wiped out by poachers and the big cats had to be relocated from other parks in India.

Popular tiger reserves in India are

Kanha tiger reserve MP

Pench tiger reserve MP

Bandhavgarh tiger reserve MP

Corbett tiger reserve

Satpura tiger reserve

Ranthambhore tiger reserve

Periyar tiger reserve

Melghat tiger reserve

Sariska tiger reserve

Panna tiger reserve.

Leaving the last two the tiger reserves mentioned here have the highest density of tigers in the country. They are the best places to see the tiger in India.

There are more than forty tiger reserves in India. These are the only places where the severely endangered animals hopes to survive. Besides tiger reserves the National Parks conserve many endangered species like Rhino, Wild Elephant, Asiatic Lion and endemic species which survive in small eco niche in India.

Most popular mammals in India are tiger, lion, rhino, elephant, bear, wild dog, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, wolf, hyena; hangul, brow antlered deer or Sangai, swamp deer, sambar deer, gazelle or chinkara; four horned deer, barking deer, mouse deer, hog deer, blue bull or nilgai; golden langur, lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque; nilgiri langur, tahr, ibex, markhor....the list is far bigger.

Visit my blog on wildlife of India for more information about wild animals and National Parks in India.

The wild life in India is spread out across the states and keystone species habitat may be far flung. One has to travel a great distance to see interesting animals of the country. For many tourists the distance may be discouraging hence organized package tours are the ideal way to travel.

The best way to explore Indian wildlife is to go on a wild life safari or a tiger tour. There are packages available for wildlife tours in India by tour operators that specialize in wild safaris. The packages are affordable as well a luxury class for the rich.

Package tourism is affordable, secure and comfortable. The group size may be large or small but the itinerary is prefixed and the tour is conducted by a professional manager. This makes in safe and comfortable as all travel needs are taken care of. Most of the tour companies hire local nature guides who are good at trekking and identifying wildlife of a particular National Park or region.

Tourists can travel independently as well for tiger safaris. They can hire services of a travel agent or book directly. Most of the travel services and hotels can be booked online withe ease. This is ideally suited for independent and small group travelers.

Most of the tiger reserves in Central India are very popular due to tiger tourism. In order to enter the parks one needs to get a permit for which a gate and guide fee has to be paid. It is advisable to book your park safari in advance at MP Online Portal. There is a restriction on entry of a limited number of vehicles for jeep safari and during the rush entries may have been booked. The safari is conducted on jeeps and no trekking is allowed in the preserves.

Most of the places of wildlife tourism in India offers rides on elephant back. These are tame elephants and trained to conduct safaris in the park. Most popular is the tiger show where tourists are taken on elephant to the spot where the tiger is.

There short rides and long rides available of elephants in many tiger reserves. A prior booking is required for excursion which may be of two hours for more. such rides are available in reserves only. At present elephant rides are available at Corbett, Kanha, Panna, Pench and Bandhavgarh National Park in MP State in India.