Wildlife
in Goa
Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park, one of the greatest National Parks of Asia.
Five hundred and twenty acres of forests, hills and grasslands, fed
by a frisky river.
A bio-diversity that is rich, rare and precious.
The perfect habitat for the tiger, elephant, hog deer, birds and other
wildlife species fast vanishing from the earth.
Flat valleys are interspread
with hilly ridges and the Park's rolling grasslands known as the Chaurs
provide visitors with an excellent view of its inhabitants.The magnificent
Ramganga River flows through the entire length of the park and little
forest streams tumble through the ravines.
While dense stands of sal
cloak the higher ridges, mixed deciduous forest are found throughout
the Park and over 110 varieties of trees, 51 species of shrubs and over
33 kinds of bamboos and grasses are seen here.
Corbett has the highest
density of tiger in the country - approximately one every 5 sq.km. and
it was here that the prestigious "Project Tiger" was launched
in 1973. Four speices of deer -hog deer, sambar, chital and barking
deer and other prey like the wild boar, support the predator.
Kanha National Park
Kanha is in Madhya Pradesh (five hours drive from Jabalpur and six hours
from Nagpur) has some times been called the N'Gorongoro of India.
The
simile is apt, albeit Kanha is far greener and its cordon of hills far
more densely wooded. Unlike Tanzania's N'Gorongoro, the Kanha Valley is
not a volcanic crater, though the enclosing hills are a consequence of
geologically ancient volcanic activity.
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Herbs of the Kanha miscellany,
the axis deer (Chital), the Swamp deer (Barasingha), the Blackbuck (Hiran),
the wild pig and occasionally the Gaur, throng the central park land of
the valley, providing the basis for the comparison with N'Gorongoro. With
its confiding herds and relatively tolerant predators, Kanha offers an
almost unrivaled scope to a keen tourist of Indian wildlife.
The forests
of the Banjar Valley and the Halon valley, respectively forming Kanha's
Western and Eastern halves, had, even at the turn of the Century, been
long famous for their deer and tiger .More Wildlife
in India...
Ranthambore Sanctuary
Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example of Project Tiger's
efforts at conservation in the country. The forests around the Ranthambore
Fort were once, the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur.
The desire to preserve the game in these forests for sport, was responsible
for their conservation, and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger. In 1972,
it was estimated, that there were around 1927 tigers in India, of which
Rajasthan had 74, and the number of big cats in Ranthambore Sanctuary
was 14. 1972 was also the year that Project Tiger was launched, and this
sanctuary was taken into its wings, alongwith seven other sanctuaries
and national parks .Other than tigers and panthers, Ranthambore is home
to antelopes, nilgai, sambhar, chital, sloth bear, wild boar, chinkara,
porcupines, jackals, leopards, jungle cats, fox, caracals, hyena, gazelle,
Indian hare, mongoose and jacanas. Monitor lizards and marsh crocodiles
are also found here.
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Keoladeo National Park
Keoladeo National Park is primarily an artificially maintained wetland
complex dependent upon diversion of water from rivers into an artificial
reservoir, the Ajan Bund, which was constructed primarily to maintain
the water level in the Park. The water from this enormous reservoir is
now diverted both to agricultural fields and to the Park. Unfortunately,
the monsoon rains were very low in 2002, and the pressure on the reservoir
has increased over the years due an explosion of farming activity around
the park. The reservoir remains empty, and the fields and the Park are
bone dry. This drought cycle in north-central India is not an unusual
phenomenon.
There was a period of drought between 1979-1982 but nothing
as drastic as the current drought. The above image of cattle, grasslands,
and mounds with acacia trees, has replaced a scene where in former winters
wide expanses of wetlands were dotted with a plethora of aquatic birds
including Siberian and sarus cranes.
Periyar
The pride of Kerela and a testimony to nature's splendour and human innovation,
the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar
lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Here the high ranges of the Western
Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savannah
grass lands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of elephants, sambars,
tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.In addition to
elephant rides, cruises on the lake and treks to the ruined Mangala Devi
temple - a beautiful old stone temple situated in the heart of the Thekkady
forest, this sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to watch and photograph
wild elephants at close quarters. The Periyar Widlife sanctuary is spread
across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar
Wiild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its
geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts
visitors all over the world and is one of the world's most fascinating
natural wildlife reserves.
Gir National Park
Gir National Park is the probably the last refuge of the Asiatic lion;
a terrain composed of steep rocky hills,deep ravines and occasional stretches
of grassland irrigated by many rivers.
The park supports a mixed semi-arid
deciduous forest.Over the years the lions have got pretty used to people
and sightings are plentiful. As a matter of fact the lion population at
Gir has been growing steadily and efforts are on to relocate some of the
animals to ease the pressure on Gir. An alternate home may be found for
some in Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh.
Dachigam Park
DACHIGAM is a wildlife sanctuary which is home to the endangered HANGUL
species of the Deer in the country. dachigam is also host to other wildlife
of the state viz Black/ Brown Bear, Musk Deer, leopards and migratory
birds. There is a Trout fish farm also in Dachigam. It is big natural
reserve which requires permissions from the Wildlife Authorities for excploration.
The dense forests of Dachigam offer a brilliant view alongwith a Glacier
fed rivulet flowing right through the middle. There are over 150 species
of birds.The principal species are monal,koklas,bearded vulture, griffon
vulture,golden eagle,grey heron,starling,golden oriole,paradise flycatcher,western
yellow-billed blue magpie,kestrel,peregrine falcon,black bulbul, etc.
Bandhavgarh
Located in the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh encompasses
32 hills covered with a mixed forest of sal, dhobin and saga and large
stretches of grasslands with bamboo grooves., Bandhavgarh is famous for
its tigers and the adventure unfolds at day break. The early morning mist
blankets around your open jeeps. As we advance into the heart of the Bandhavgarh
Forest, a sense of expectation grips you. Tigers regularly give audience
in these parts.
Kaziranga Park
Kaziranga National Park lies on the south bank of the Brahmaputra and
its boundary for the most part follows the Mora Diphlu river and runs
parallel to National Highway No. 37. It covers an area of 688 sq. kilometres.
The Park was first established in 1908, as a reserve forest with only
about a dozen rhinos and was declared a National Park in 1974. Kaziranga
National Park, a World Heritage Site, is famous for its one-horned rhino
(Rhinocerous Unicornis). Tourist from India and abroad come here to see
the wild life in its natural habitat. Apart from the rhino, there are
elephants, wild buffalos, leopards and a host of other animals.
It is
also a haven for many different rare and near extinct species of birds.Migratory
birds from many parts of the world come here during the winter season.
A wide variety of fresh water fishes are also found in the Beels (marshy
areas) of the park.The park is open from November to April. Tourists can
take rides on elephants to move around the park or cruise in a boat on
the Brahmaputra along the park.
Chitwan
Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) has long been one of the country’s
treasures of natural wonders. The park is situated in south central Nepal,
covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. The
area comprising the Tikauli forest - from Rapti river to the foothills
of the Mahabharat - extending over an area of 175 sq. km. was declared
Mahendra Mriga Kunj (Mahendra Deer Park) by the late King Mahendra in
1959. In 1963, the area south of Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros
sanctuary. The area was gazetted as the country’s first national
park in 1973. Recognizing its unique ecosystems of international significance,
UNESCO declared RCNP a World Heritage Site in 1984.
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