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National Parks play a significant time in preserving the distinct species of our planet. They can generally be referred to as distinctive spots having a wide assortment of species with varied traits. Notably, activities like logging, chasing, touching and mining are prohibited in these huge characteristic spots. The main objective of setting up a national park was to conserve and protect the varied species around us.
Being the most precious resource to humankind, the Earth needs to be protected and taken care of. We have been posing a lot of danger to the biodiversity around us. So, it becomes necessary that we give back to our mother nature, what we owe to it. For this purpose, National Parks have been set up by the authorities. Initially, it was Jim Corbett, a hunter and a naturalist, who helped in setting up the very first national park in India. Thus, after a decade of India’s independence, the Hailey National Park was renamed to Jim Corbett National Park.
Jim Corbett National Park the Paradise of Tigers: A Fact File
Located in Uttarakhand, Jim Corbett National Park is the first national park that came under the extent of Project Tiger initiative. It has its origin from the time period of Britishers. Initially, this was known by the name of Hailey National Park, but soon after India’s Independence, the authorities changed its name after one of the most popular hunters and naturalists of those times, Jim Corbett.
The Jim Corbett National Park covers a total land area of 520.8 km² which includes areas of large lake, hills, grasslands, riverine belts and marshy depressions. Thus, the Park is covered under 73℅ Forest area and the rest is covered with other sorts of areas like the grasslands.
Historical Background
The Efforts to conserve the species and biodiversity of the country started way back during the British period. It was in the 19th century under Major Ramsay that the first step towards protecting the land area from the destructive activities of humans was undertaken by the authorities. Early 1900s came up with various suggestions from several Britishers to set up national parks for the preservation of wildlife and the environment around it.
Thus, Asia’s first National Park, Hailey National Park, was set up in 1936, after the name of Sir Malcolm Hailey who was the Governor of United Provinces at that time. Notably, activities like hunting, logging, chasing, touching and mining were prohibited in these huge characteristic spots. It was in 1956, after nearly a decade of India’s Independence, that the National Park was renamed Jim Corbett National Park from Hailey National Park.
Geographical Area
The Jim Corbett National Park covers a total land area of 520.8 km² which includes areas of large lake, hills, grasslands, riverine belts and marshy depressions. Thus, the Park is covered under 73℅ Forest area and the rest is covered with other sorts of areas like the grasslands. The reserve belongs to the sub-Himalayan belt structure category located partly between the areas of Lesser Himalayas in the Northern areas and the Shivaliks in the southern areas. You can locate various ravines, minor streams, ridges, small plateaus in the slope of the reserve.
Flora and Fauna
If we talk about the Flora that is present in Jim Corbett National Park, then we can infer a total of 488 distinctive species. The density of the trees is the highest in the Sal Forest areas and the lowest in the areas of the Anogeissus-Acacia catechu Forests. However, the Sal Forest Areas have the worst regeneration of seedlings, even if it has a huge density of forest areas.
Talking about the Fauna in this area, there are a total of 586 species of birds, seven kinds of amphibians, 33 kinds of reptiles and seven types of fishes. You won’t easily be able to spot the Bengal Tigers here, due to the presence of foliage in the reserve area. The numerous types of species in this reserve makes it ideal for the tigers to reside in, as they are opportunistic feeders and would be able to feed on a variety of animals.
The Jim Corbett National Park tiger population is known to have also killed a lot of larger animals and fed on them as their food and sustenance. Notably, the times of the shortages of prey lead to the tigers feeding on the large animals like buffalos. Sometimes, you will even find leopards in the lowland jungles, but they mostly reside in the hilly areas.
Conclusion
It is essential that the balance in biodiversity is maintained on Earth. The interdependence of all the species on one another makes the existence of all the species significant and crucial. One cannot overlook the environmental benefits that these national parks offer to us. National Parks have been preserving and protecting various distinct species for over many years now. The preservation of natural resources through the existence of the Natural parks have provided great usefulness to the living beings.
