Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttaranchal
Corbett Tiger Reserve is one of the most renowned Wildlife Sanctuary in India. Situated in the newly formed state of Uttaranchal, Corbett Tiger Reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttaranchal holds the prestigious honor of being the starting point of Project Tiger in India. The park featured among the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the project. The location of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttaranchal at the foothills of the Central Himalayas results in the abundance of both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna in the region.
The Corbett Tiger Reserve is famous for the Tigers inhabiting the park. The park is a happy hunting ground for Tiger, as well as its preys including four kinds of Deer, Wild Boar and others. Leopards are a commonly found in the hilly terrain of Corbett Reserve.
Named after the fearless hunter Jim Corbett, Corbett Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest scanturies in India. The park extends over a vast area of 1,318 square kms. The Ramaganga river flows through its entire length. The park can be explored by open jeep or elephant rides. In fact, a sight of Tiger from an open jeep is a experience to relish for a lifetime. The best time to visit Corbett Tiger Reserve is from December to April. The preserve opens from 16 November to14 June.
The Corbett Tiger Reserve is also very rich in fauna. It has been recorded that over 585 species of native and migratory birds thrive in the region. The varieties include Peacock, Jungle Fowl, Partridges, Kaleej, Crow, Vulture, Parakeets, Laughing Thrush, Orioles, King Fishers, Drongo, Doves, Woodpeckers, Ducks, Teals, Storks, Cormorants and Seagulls.
The vegetation at Corbett National Park comprises Northern Moist Deciduous, Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous, and Himalayan Subtropical Pine Forests. The trees commonly found include Sal, Khair, Sissoo, Ber, Kuthber, Bel, Chbilla, Dhak, Semal, Khingan, Kharpat, Rohini, Bakli, Pula and Bamboo.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is one of the famous tiger reserves in India. Located amidst the Vindhyan Range and the Aravallis in rajasthan, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve holds the heritage history of being the hunting resort of the erstwhile Jaipur royalty. The reserve spans over an area 392 sq km Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan is the home to the ferocious predator - Tiger. Ranthambore is the ideal destination for photographers who wish to click a few snapshots of the spotted predators of this National Park in India. There are around 36 tigers and 40 leopards in the Ranthambore Forests. Bakaula, Lakarda, Nal Ghati, Semli, Anantpura and Kachida are the most popular spots in Ranthambore from where you can watch tiger in action. There are six man made lakes are the central focus of the park and many perennial streams criss-cross the entire park. Enjoy breathtakingly beautiful views of this wildlife sanctuary of Rajasthan on your tour to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. The forests of Ranthambore are intersected by rivers and lakes and rivulets.
Ranthambore National Park shows a rich diversity of flora and fauna here. About 300 species of trees, 50 species of aquatic plants, 272 birds species, 12 reptiles species 30 species mammals. Other than tiger, other animals found in Ranthambore are Nilgai, Sambhar, Chital, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Chinkara, Porcupine, Jackal, Leopard, Jungle Cat and marsh Crocodile.
Sunderbans
The world’s largest delta and mangrove swamp – Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, is situated in West Bengal. Sprawled over an area of 2,585 sq. km, Sunderbans is the largest estuarine sanctuary in the world, and home to some of India’s most interesting animal – the Royal Bengal Tiger. The littoral forest at Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal marks the only ecological habitat of the royal bengal tiger in the world except in Bangladesh. The tidal forms and mangrove forests in Sunderbans Tiger Reserve provide habitats suitable for animals inhabiting tidal swamp areas. Several aquatic and semi-aquatic animals inhabit these forests and their life-systems are inter-related with the animals inhabiting the land areas. Sprawled over a vast expanse of densely forested islands and saline water bodies, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal is home to about 270 Royal Bengal Tigers.
The tigers of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal are known to be mostly man-eaters. The uniqueness of the habitat and the lack of suitable prey are believed to have contributed to such unique behavioral trends of Sunderbans tiger. The man-eating trait is considered to have been hereditarly acquired over a period of generations in the process of consumption of saline water.
The forests at Sunderbans Tiger Reserve also provide habitations to the Estuarine Crocodile, Salvator Lizard (Water Monitor), River Terrapin and Horse Shoe or King Crab. Endangered marine turtles like Olive Ridley, Green Turtle and Hawk's Bill Turtles are also found here. A number of Trans-Himalayan migratory birds can also be spotted at Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal. A visit to Sunderbans is a perfect date with Royal Bengal Tiger in India.
Sariska Tiger Reserve
The Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most visited parks in India. Situated among the Aravalli hills in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, Sariska Tiger Reserve is a renowned Wildlife Sanctuary. Sariska National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and came under the "Project Tiger" as a tiger reserve in 1979. Tourists flock to the reserve in large numbers.
Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan spreads over a total area of about 800 sq. km, with the core area being approximately 500 sq. km. The Northern Aravali Hills form an enchanting backdrop, featuring sharp cliffs and long valleys. The abundant occurrence of a wide variety of wildlife at Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan is an excellent example of ecological adoption and tolerance, for the climate here is variable and erratic.
Sariska is prime tiger country, with the terrain chiefly comprising of undulating plateau lands and wide valleys. The topography of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses. The flora growing at the park includes Dhok – found predominantly in the region, Bamboo, Boswellia serreta, Lannea coromandelica, Kattha and a host of other varieties.
Besides tiger, the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan is home to an enchanting variety of fauna, namely Spotted Deer, Sambar, Blue Bull, Tiger, Leopard, Caracal, Rusty Spotted Cat, Jungle Cat, Four-horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Jackal, Hyena, and others. Sariska is also well known as the habitat of Rhesus Monkeys, which are commonly found around.
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh is famous undoubtedly for the TIGER. Kanha Tiger Reserve has the most frequent appearance of t h tiger as compared to other tiger reserves in india. You can easily spot the ferocious beast, roaming freely in the wilderness of its natural habitat. The river-valley basins, open parkland meadows and grasslands at Kanha form the perfect grazing ground for a wide variety of wild animals.
The Kanha Tiger Reserve civers parts of the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh. It is is located in the Maikal hills of the Satpura Ranges. Acclaimed as one of the finest national parks in Asia, Kanha Tiger Reserve is renowned worldwide for its rich floral and faunal bounty. Kanha attained the status of a National Park in 1955, and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh created in 1974 under Project Tiger.
The wildlife spotted at Kanha Tiger Reserve include Leopards, Dholes (Indian wild dog), Indian Bisons, Sambar, Chital, Barking Deer, Black Buck, Chausingha, Nilgai, Monkeys, Mongoose, Mouse Deer, Sloth Bear, Jackal, Porcupine, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Hare, Rock Pythons, and a host of other animals. The park is the only habitat of the near-extinct hard-ground Swamp Deer (‘Barasingha’), and with a little luck, you can even spot this rare species.
Wildlife in Kanha Tiger Reserve also comprises of a wide variety of birds, making the park a much sought-after destination for bird-watchers and ornithologists. Some of the birds spotted commonly are Pea fowls, Storks, Pond Herons, Egrets, Peacock, Partridges, spotted Parakeets, Green Pigeons, Cuckoos, Drongos, etc.