National Parks and Sanctuaries

What exactly constitutes a national park

The preservation of the natural environment is the primary focus of the nation’s national parks. They also take part in activities that are open to the public for fun and recreation. The landscapes, as well as the flora and fauna that inhabit them, are preserved in their natural state within a national park.

The diversity of life in India is really high. Within the realm of the Indo-Malayan ecozone, it is home to around 7.6 percent mammalian species, 6.2 percent reptilian species, 12.6 percent avian species, and 6.0 percent flowering plant species. There are numerous ecoregions in our country that have high rates of endemism, such as the Shola forests. The tropical rainforest, the Western Ghats, and Northeast India are only some of the regions that are covered by the forests that extend all the way up to the coniferous forests in the Himalayan region.

The significant terrestrial ecosystem that is part of the Indo-Malayan ecozone includes regions that are either temperate, polar, wet, or dry. These regions provide habitat for a wide variety of animal and plant species. Elephants, tigers, cobras, crocodiles, apes, sambar deer, spotted deer, rhinoceroses, goats, and lions are just a few of the animals that may be found there, along with a wide variety of flora and wildlife.

The Indian subcontinent is home to approximately 99 national parks that are recognised internationally. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated all of these national parks and wildlife reserves as falling under the second category of protected areas. This category includes other types of protected areas as well.

The following is a list of India’s national parks.

Wildlife can find refuge away from human habitation in national parks and preserves. At this time, India possesses more than one hundred national parks that are dispersed around the country and span a variety of ecosystems.

The very first national park to be established in India was the Hailey National Park. It is a model of ecological preservation that is among the very best there is. The following are some of India’s other national parks:

• Bandipur National Park in Karnataka

• Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh

• The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Karnataka.

• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Kerala.

• Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand

• Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka

• Located in Uttar Pradesh is the Dudhwa National Park.

• The Gir National Park and the Sasan Gir Sanctuary can be found in the state of Gujarat.

• The Jammu and Kashmir location of Hemis National Park.

• Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh

Kaziranga National Park

The districts of Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Nagaon in the Indian state of Assam are home to the Kaziranga National Park, which is also a national park. The preserve is recognised as a World Heritage Site due to the fact that it is home to approximately two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses. The population of rhinoceroses in Kaziranga National Park is estimated to be 2,413 based on the results of a census that was carried out in March 2018 and was jointly carried out by the Forest Department of the Government of Assam and a number of renowned wildlife NGOs. It comprises 1,641 adult rhinos (642 males, 793 females, 206 unsexed); 387 sub-adults (116 males, 149 females, 122 unsexed); and 385 calves.

Fauna

According to the IUCN Red List, Kaziranga is home to major breeding populations of 35 different species of mammalian life, 15 of which are considered to be endangered. The park is notable for housing the greatest populations of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (2,401), wild Asiatic water buffalo (1,666), and eastern swamp deer in the entire globe (468). There are significant populations of large herbivores in India, including 1,940 elephants, 1,300 gaur, and sambar. The Indian muntjac, the wild boar, and the hog deer are all examples of small herbivores. The wild water buffalo population at Kaziranga National Park is estimated to account for approximately 57 percent of the total population of the species worldwide. The One-Horned Rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Asian Elephant, the Wild Water Buffalo, and the Swamp Deer are referred to jointly as Kaziranga’s “Big Five.”

Flora

There are primarily four different kinds of vegetation found in this park. These include alluvial savanna woodlands, tropical moist mixed deciduous forests, and tropical semi-evergreen forests. Grasslands that are inundated by alluvial rivers are also included. According to data obtained from Landsat in 1986, the percentage of land covered by various types of vegetation is as follows: tall grasses account for 41 percent, short grasses for 11 percent, open jungle for 29 percent, swamps for 4 percent, rivers and other bodies of water for 8 percent, and sand accounts for 6 percent.

The western half of the park is located at a lower altitude than the eastern side, which is one of the differences in terms of altitude that can be found throughout the park. Grasslands predominate in the park’s westernmost portions and outlying areas. On the upper land, you’ll find tall elephant grass, while on the lower ground, you’ll find short grasses covering the area around the beels and flood-created ponds.

What exactly is a Sanctuary

Sanctuaries are protected regions that occur naturally and are set aside to shield endangered species from human activities such as hunting, poaching, and predators. At this location, the animals are not bred with the intention of selling them. All of the wild creatures have a place to go that is secure, healthy, and safe because of this.

Here is a list of the several sanctuaries that may be located in India:

• The Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary, 

• The Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary, 

• The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, and

• The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are the four sanctuaries in question.

• The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary 

• The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a protected area.

• Sanctuary of the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary

• Sanctuary of the Anamalai Wildlife

• Sanctuary for the Animals of Dandeli

• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to go.

In the beginning, several of the National Parks served as refuges for various types of animals. In the year 2015, there was a thirty percent increase in the total number of tigers as a direct result of the conservative measures that were implemented by the government of India. These national parks and animal sanctuaries are some of the most popular tourist destinations in India since they provide an unrivaled nature experience across the country.

People who are interested in wildlife and visitors can discover a greater variety of activities, such as sightseeing, safari tours, bird watching, angling, fishing, river crossings, camping, and tiger tours, at the several tiger reserves that are located in India.

The Key Distinctions Between a National Park and a Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park are two words that seem the same but have significantly different connotations. The natural components of an ecosystem are what make up the wildlife in that ecosystem. The wildlife population has been put in jeopardy as a direct result of the increased industrialization and deforestation. Therefore, protecting natural ways of life, such as those found in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, reservoirs, and other such places. The Wildlife Sanctuary has a clearly defined boundary or region inside which plants and animals can coexist in complete safety and adhere to a predetermined way of life. In addition to this, national parks offer a protected space for the entire ecosystem, which includes the flora, animals, and terrain of the area. as well as biosphere reserves, which are areas that are set aside to save particular groups of plants, birds, and animals.

Conclusion 

National parks are places where the natural environment is protected. They also participate in public recreation and leisure activities. Landscapes, flora, and animals are all present in their native state in a national park. Sanctuaries are naturally occurring locations where endangered species are protected from hunting, poaching, and predation. The animals are not bred for profit in this environment. It offers all wild animals a safe, healthy, and secure haven.