India’s Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks

Wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks in India are a haven for nature and wildlife lovers as India is home to some of the world’s most distinctive species. India is known for its lush forests that make for a warm abode for a large number of wildlife species. Wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks offer an unforgettable experience of sightseeing endangered animals through jungle safaris.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India

According to a study, India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries, accounting for 60-70% of global biodiversity. Around 400 species of mammals and 1300 species of birds live in India’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

The animals of India are diverse and protected by more than 120 national parks, 18 biosphere reserves, and 500 wildlife sanctuaries. It is the only place on the planet where you have a reasonable probability of spotting Asian Lions, Bengal and Indochinese Tigers, and Sloth Bears.

A National Park is established for both public pleasure and historical reasons. In a National Park, the majority of the landscapes and the plants and animals that inhabit them are preserved in their natural state. Wildlife sanctuaries are locations where animals are well-protected from poaching.

• Kaziranga National Park

• This prominent National Park of India is located in Assam, in the districts of Golaghat and Nagaon.
• The Kaziranga National Park is home to the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers, elephants, panthers, bears, and thousands of birds.
• Other vulnerable species, such as the wild water buffalo and the Ganges River dolphin, have a considerable population in this National Park. Migratory birds visit here often.
• The park brought back the Indian one-horned rhinoceros from being critically endangered to a species with the largest population in the beginning of the twentieth century.

• Corbett National Park

• Corbett National Park is India’s oldest and most famous national park, having been established in 1936 as Hailey National Park.
• Corbett has long been a popular destination for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district.
• This one-of-a-kind tiger area is best known as the father of Project Tiger in India, which aims to safeguard India’s most endangered species, including the Royal Tigers.
• Dhikala, a forest lodge on the boundary of Patil Dun Valley famous for its abundant wildlife, is the most popular destination in Corbett National Park.

• Ranthambore National Park
  

• Ranthambore National Park is situated roughly 13.5 kilometres from Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.
• Ranthambore National Park is divided into ten zones, out of which zones one to five are ideal for tiger sightings.
• The deep jungle provides the finest circumstances for the tiger to hunt for his prey in stealth, and it is the only national park in India where mother and baby tigers are found in large numbers.
• Some of the primary wild creatures are the nilgai, sloth, wild boar, and leopard. It also offers a varied range of trees, reptiles, and birds. With over 270 different species of birds, the reserve has a robust bird population.

• Sariska National Park

• Sariska National Park was the first national park in India to effectively provide a natural habitat to the beautiful Royal Bengal Tigers. This national park is also home to leopards, jungle cats, striped hyenas, and golden jackals.
• It covers an area of 800 square kilometres and features mountains, meadows, dry deciduous forests, and cliffs.
• The ruins of mediaeval Garh-Major temples from the 10th and 11th centuries can be found in the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary. A 17th-century palace on a hilltop near Kankwari also offers a panoramic view of vultures and eagles in flight.
• In 1955, the Sariska was designated as a sanctuary, and in 1979, it was established as a National Park.

Conclusion : 

National parks and sanctuaries are locations of exceptional ecological, botanical, and natural value. They are protected by the Forest Departments under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and its amendments, the Indian Forest Act of 1927, Forest (Protection) Act of 1980, Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. In protected regions, hunting wild animals, encroachment of habitat, developing tourist hotels, and other activities are forbidden. As citizens of India, we must make efforts to sustain flora and fauna of these exuberant National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.