Wildlife Tourism in India

Introduction to Wildlife tourism

Approximately 4% of the total Indian land is forests in which 90 forests are national parks and 482 Wildlife Sanctuaries. According to statistics, India has 60-70% world’s bio diversity.

In Indian forests you will find a variety of wildlife. From Asian Elephants to Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Indian Rhinoceros and Leopard, you will find all of them here. There are hundreds of bird species and it is one of the best places for bird watching.

Some National parks like Jim Corbett National Parkk

(Uttaranchal), Bandhavgarh National Park and Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Gir National Park in Sasangir (Gujarat), Ranthambore National Parkin Sawai Madhopur are rich in bird species.

History of WLT

Way back in 1973, Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore and Sariska were launched as national parks. In the year 2000, September 24^th, a need arises for the departments of forest, transport, fisheries and tourism to co-ordinate their resources. But for India it still looks like a dream. Despite of chaotic management, in Dec 2004 Dec 24^th, tourism saw growth due to availability of fantastic locales which were perfect to attract tourists from worldwide. In 2002, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation entered into a partnership with Indian Tourism Development Corporation development of tourism in Kerala.This included that sites for water sports, wildlif

e tourism, backwater holidays and mountain activities be identified. An year later in October India has more number of tourist pouring in to visit the national parks. The industry by now had started sustaining a substantial amount of people.The recent news is that Taj Hotels have entered into a treaty with Conservation Corporation Africa to promote wildlife tourism in India.

Present Situation

In India, the Wildlife Tourism industry is one of the most progressive. In 2006 talks of having policies to align wildlife in the country were in circulation. They wanted to assign this to think tanks which could help adopt the African Safari Model. By 2007, eco tourism was a properly introduced concept, which gained momentum but marketing of wildlife tourism was even then done poorly. The ways were unscientific and unsystematic. The wildlife is abundant in the country but still there are improper mans to exploit their real potential.

The Tiger States of India and the tigers

Scenario of tiger population:

National animal of our country is none other than Tiger. India is the only country which has a large number of Wild Tigers. India must be having 4000 tigers. According many surreys, it has been proved that there are around 3000 tigers left due to recently increased hunting. In 1973, Tiger Project was begun to raise the situation of tigers. At that time India comprised only 1800 animals.

Tigers of India are spread across the country.

Some national parks comprise many tigers. Kanha National Park

has 102 tigers and Sunderbans has an extreme population of 270. You can spot only few tigers in the Wildlife Sanctuaries. It is difficult to find uninhabited and nocturnal animals.

Another state Rajasthan is known as a paradise for a huge spectrum of wildlife including Tigers. In 1985, the ratio of tigers’ population was 35, reported after survey. The Ranthambore Sanctuary came under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982.

Still people need more wildlife preservation laws and knowingness. It is essential to make Indian sanctuaries a safe haven for tigers. In India, there are only few parks who allow you to a realistic chance of seeing tigers.

States/ Reserves of Tigers:

India consists of many tiger reserves where one can have best chance to spot tigers. In the foothills of north side of Uttar Pradesh, Corbett Park is known for tigers. On the other hand, you will find Kanha National park in M.P. and Ranthambore in Rajasthan.
Due to the population of Tigers, Madhya Pradesh has become very popular. Madhya Pradesh’s Ka is Tiger state which is famous as the heat of India. Madhya Pradesh is also home to the India’s religions. State of Madhya Pradesh is rich in its diverse wildlife and diverse traditions. There are many historic forts, national parks, palaces and temples to explore. In Madhya Pradesh, you can explore various sanctuaries such as Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Vanvihar, Madhav national park etc.

The geography of Rajasthan sets out from the bleak desert, scrub-thorn dry woodlands to wetlands and lush, green forests. National Parks like, Ranthambore, Bharatpur, Sariska are major national parks which has a wide series of tigers. Other national parks include Sitamata, Darrah, Chambal, Tal Chapper, Jamwa Ramgarh, Kaila Devi.

Bengal is another state, Royal Bengal tiger is the national animal of India. You can have incredible sights of tigers. The tigers of Bengal are marked with dark stripes, long tail, huge paws and danger teeth. Royal Bengal Tiger of India is regarded as the King of the Jungle. The tigers of Bengal are the largest big cats of India.

Tiger Reserves of India are popularly known as Tiger Parks. These tigers are related through a large preservation effort called 'Project Tiger'. Amongst all national parks, four of them are the most breathtaking destinations, often visited and well known.

Royal Bengal Tigers are discovered in protected jungles of India, and across India like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

A safari with one horn Indian Rhino

One horn Indian Rhino has skin with loose folds. These features are totally different from African rhinos. Indian one horn Rhino generally eats grass, reeds and twigs. Rhinos spend long periods rejoicing mud and lying in water.

Elephant safari is an ideal way to encounter with the Indian Rhino from a close range. You can also explore some Zoos in India that domiciles the Indian Rhino. One-horned Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros is discovered in the state of Assam. People believe since many years that, various parts of the rhinos have charming settings. Best season to spot Rhino is monsoon and November to April. Kaziranga National Park and ManasNational Park located in Assam are the perfect destinations to spot the Indian Rhino in its natural home

ground.

Habitat:

The real habitat of Rhino is took place from the foothills of the Hindu Kush in Pakistan. The Indian rhino was carried off from all the regions except Chitwan Valley, Brahmaputra valley and Teesta valley. Later it was found in south Nepal and north parts of India. Rhinos are now restricted to the lofty grasslands and river line forests of the Himalayan foothills. The Indian rhino is one of the species that dwell in the Himalaya and Indo - B

urma Biodiversity spots and the Terai-Duar Savannas & Grasslands.

Home of Rhino in India:

Kaziranga National Park:

Kaziranga National Park is set along the mighty Brahmaputra River. It covers a region of around 430 sq km. The swamplands and lush green pastures are elegant with its tall and evergreen woods. You will find large number of Rhino in this region. It is an alarming point for Rhino. This park is the greatest success of rhinoceros preservation. Rhinos were viciously stewed for their horn.

Manas National Park:

Another most prominent and Rhino sanctuary is Manas national park. It is remarkable for its rare golden Langur.

Golden langur is found only in this part of India. Other animals include Assamese Macaque, Capped Langur and the Hoolock Gibbon. An attractive and fascinating Reserve houses Red Panda, which are rarely found in high elevations. Covered in 2,840 sq km, Manas National Park is a very special ecosphere. It also houses around twenty species of animals and birds. These are enormously vulnerable, which include Hispid Hare and Pigmy Hog.

Tiger Reserve in India part 5

Bori Satpura National Park
Situated near Bori and Panchmarhi Sanctuaries, in the satpura range of Mahadeo Hills this Park was set up in 1981. The park comprises of sal, teak and bamboo plantations. The woods are spread out and the terrain is rugged with deep valleys, gorges and waterfalls. Another highlight of this place is the vast Tawa reservoir. The exclusive range of wildlife found here includes
barking deer, bison and a rich medley of birds such as cuckoo, parakeet, peafowl, woodpecker, hornbill, cormorant and heron. The best time to visit this place is between the months of January-June.

Melghat National Park
Located in Amravati district in Central India, Melghat National Park is 25 km from Chikaldhara hill resort in the Satpura Ranges. Spread over a 1674 sq km, this reserve is believed to have 80 tigers which live in the interiors of the reserve. Established as a sanctuary in 1967 and declared as a reserve in 1974, the landscape here is mainly rocky and rugged which is a natural protection from the poachers. The wildlife here comprises of sloth bears, flying squirrels and monkey apart from other species. There are 2000 gaurs which makes it the second largest reserve in these terms. Summers are the best time for Tiger sightings and winters are great for bird watching.
The best time to visit this place is between the months of October and June. Safaris are carried out here but only between December and June.
Pench Maharashtra
Located in the southern Satpura Hills and extended a little in Madhya Pradesh, Pench Tiger Reserve spreads across 758 sq km. It was given the status of tiger reserve in 1992. The reserve gets its name from the Pench River. The park has a rich fauna. The Wildlife here includes Wild Pig, the Nilgai, the Chital, the Gaur, the four-horned Antelope, the Muntjac and many more. Tiger sightings are rare here. The Pench National Park remains open from 5 am to 7 pm for tourists. The best time to visit is the months between February and April.

Tadoba Andhari National Park
Located in Chandrapur Maharashtra, Tadoba was declared a national park in 1955. This is one of the few parks which is home to an Asiatic lion. Estabilished in 1935 and declared as a tiger reserve in 1995, the park also called Jewel of Vidharba. The best thing about this park is that the entire park is accessible. The forest tracks here are bestowed with rich green vegetation. It is also the second Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The wildlife exclusive to this reserve is bears, gaur, nilgai, marsh crocodiles, barking deer, panther, and flying squirrel. Best time to visit this place will be between the months of November and March.
Dampa National Park
Located 130 km from Aizwal, in Mizoram in Kolasib District this park was upgraded to a tiger reserve in 1994 covering a sprawling 100 sq km area. The landscape here is undulating with hills spread all around; the park has elephant back safari facilities. The wildlife exclusive to this park is serow, porcupine, hornbill, red jungle fowl, dove, myna and crested serpent eagles. Best time to visit this place is between the months of November to march.

Tiger Reserve in India part 4

Namdapha National Park
Situated in Arunachal Pradesh, 150 km from Miao, Namdapha National park stretches across an area of 1985 sq km. Being one of the largest national parks in north-east region, this park is situated on the Indo-Burma border. This park mainly covers high altitudes of up to 4500 m. This park had a typical stock of flora and fauna. The lush green tropical rain forests are the breeding ground of a variety of animals and birds. Best time to visit this park is in the months of October and April.

Pakhui National Park
Located in East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 862 km. This park lies in the headquarters of Seijusa in the southwestern side of Arunachal Pradesh. Kememng River flows on its western side, Pakke River in the eastern side and Assam surrounds it on the south. The total area of Pakke Tiger Reserve was actually the area of Pakke Reserve forest. It was declared as Camo Sanctuary in 1977. in 2002 though it was declared as Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and finally declared as a reserve in 2004 under the Project Tiger scheme. The sanctuary houses a spectacular range of wildlife species like leopard, tiger, jackal, clouded leopard, fishing cat, jungle cat, wild dog, wild boar, bison, sambar and hog deer, elephant, barking deer, flying squirrel and rhesus macaque. The best time to visit this place is between the months of October and April.
Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam
This is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India situated 29 km away from Macherla and is spread across Kurnool, Guntur, Mahaboobnagar, Prakasam, and Nalgonda districts. This park spans an area of 3568 sq km. Surrounded by Nallamalai hills in south and Krishna River on the northern side, this sanctuary gets its name from the reservoir Nagarjunasagar. The sanctuary houses one of the oldest geological structures called ‘Archaean’ which is believed to be 2000 million years old. The major wildlife attractions here are Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Hyena. Tigers are extremely nocturnal and rarely seen here. Once home to 100 tigers, the tiger population in the park has fallen drastically. Additional animal species spotted here are Spotted Deers, Mouse Deers, Sambhars, Wolves, Foxes, Chousingha Nilgai, Tree Shrews, Rayels, Wild Boars, Indian Giant Squirrels, Black Bucks, Jackals, Crocodiles, Wild Dogs, Sloth Bear, Panthers and Tigers. The best time to visit the park is between the months of October and June.
Valmiki National Park

Located in the West Champaran district of Bihar, Valmiki National Park covers an area of 335.64 sq km out of the 800sq. km of the Valmiki Sanctuary. This is the 18 Tiger Reserve, declared so in the year 1990 and ranks fourth in the density of tiger population. Surrounded by Royal Chitwan National Park of Nepal in the north and the river Gandak in the west, this park gets its name from the Valmiki Ashram located in the forests of Chitwan national Park. The forest has dry Sal, moist deciduous trees containing reed beds and wet grasslands. The reserve inhabits tiger, various species of deer, serow, python, peafowl, leopard, wolf, hyenas, Indian civets, sloth bear, leopards, Jungle cats, etc. Animals like One horned rhinoceros and Indian bison are often found migrating from Chitwan to Valmikinagar. You can visit the park anytime of the year.
Palamau National Park
Palamau Sanctuary can pride itself in the fact that it is the ground for the world’s first tiger census. Situated 140 km west of Ranchi it is one of the best places to see wild elephants. Spread in a total of 1026 sq km the forest here are rich with sal, teak trees and bamboo groves. It is believed there are 37 tigers, 62 leopards, 210 elephants and 249 bison in the park. The sanctuary has 200 villages where 8 local tribes live. The wildlife found here is wolf, sloth bear, deer, leopard, python, peafowl, sambars, nilgais, leopards, hyenas, Indian civets, jungle cats, hog deer and wild dogs. The best time to visit the park and sanctuary is between the months of October and June.
Bhadra National Park
Located in the tropical green jungles of Chikmagalur district 275 km from Bangalore, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is spread in an area of 492.46 sq km. Initially the sanctuary was called Jagara Valley Game Reserve and was declared as the 25th Tiger Reserve in 1998. Bhadra flows in the sanctuary hence giving it its name. The sanctuary is well known as Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary it is a great place to site tigers, Indian Bison, stripped Hyena and the flying lizard gliding in the woods. The park is dwelling place for more than 250 species of birds. The exceptional wildlife includes gaur, sloth bear, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, bonnet macaque, slender loris and Malabar giant squirrel. Best time to visit this place is between the months of June and October.

Tiger Reserve in India part 3

Indrawati National Park
The renowned wildlife park of Chhatisgarh, Indravati National Park is located in Dantewada district. Indravati River flows across the park and forms its northern boundary. Indrawati became a national park in 1981 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under the famous Project Tiger of India. The park houses a variety of wildlife and endangered species such as Wild Buffaloes and Hill Mynas. Indrawati is blessed with lush green vegetations and a diverse wildlife park. A varied wildlife is found here ranging from Barasinghas, tigers and Monkeys, porcupines of flying squirrels. The best time to visit the park is from 15th December and 15th June.

Periyar
Periyar National park is spread across 777 sq km in the Western Ghat mountain ranges in Idukki District. The park has a dam Mullaperiyar built on river Periyar which is now a large lake spread in 26 sq. km. area. Boating is carried out in the lake which is the best way to encounter wildlife from the closest. Trekking is also arranged for near the boat landing. The park comprises of 62 species of mammals and a variety of endangered species like the flying squirrel, wild dog, gaur, elephant, leopard, sambar, sloth bear, barking deer and wild boar. Best time to visit the park is either between April-June or July-August.
Kaziranga
Situated in the Golaghat District and Nagaon District of Assam, Kaziranga is the oldest national park of Assam. Spread across an area of 430 sq km, Brahmaputra flows across its north and Karbi Anglong hills surround the south. This park is a world heritage site and is well known for the Great Indian one horned rhinoceros. The thick forests of Kaziranga the tall elephant grass and shallow water pools are parts of its landscape. Declared as a national park in 1974, it provides tourists with facilities like elephant rides or a cruise in a boat on the Brahmaputra River along the park. The best time to visit the park is from November to April.
Kalakad-Mundathurai
Situated in Agasthyamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kalakad -Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) was declared so in 1882. This park is known for its rare plants and endangered wildlife. Spread across 665 sq km, it has dry forests in the foothills and wet forests on higher altitudes. The

wildlife here comprises of Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Slender Loris, Lion tailed Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin. Best time to visit Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is between the months of September and January.
Nameri National Park
Situated 35 km from Tezpur, in the foothills of Himalayas, Nameri National Park is spread across 200 sq. km. The river Jia Bhoroli flows through it the decisuous forests of the park. This park was declared as a sanctuary on 18th September 1985 and a National Park on 15th November 1998. Nameri has a wide variety of wildlife species which range from Tiger, Black bear, elephant, Leopard, deer, jackals to a varied species of birds such as the white winged wood duck, four species of Hornbill, butterflies and reptiles are also found here. The best time to visit the park is in the months of November and May.

Kanha National Park

Kanha National park is located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh and it extends over an area of over 1,940-sq-kms. The major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal.

There is much folklore about how it got Kanha name. Some say it came from Kanha, the clay like soil of the river bottoms.

A series of stringent conservation programs for the protection of the park’s flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved reputation for being one of the finest and best administered national parks in Asia, an irresistible attraction for all wild life lovers a true haven for its animal and avian population.

The ideal time to visit Kanha National Park would be the period between February and June. Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering stre

ams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendor. This is original Kipling country, of which he wrote so vividly in his Jungle Book.

This national park has 22 species of mammals. Those most easily spotted are tiger, Indian wild dogs, the stripped Palm Squirrel, Common langur, Jackal, Wild Pig, Chital or Spotless deer, Barasingha or Swamp deer, Sambar and black Buck.

Kanha land of the tiger offers amazing diversity. Tigers rule supreme in Kanha National Park. The tigers are easily spotted due to excellent conservation efforts.

Patient watching should reward the visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, striped
hyena, Jungle cut, Leopard, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine.

You will have enough accommodation options in Kanha. The scene is getting better every passing day. There are a number of star category hotels catering to the needs of tourists coming to explore Kanha and the places around.

Kanha is said to be among the few most scenic and beautiful Wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey. Kanha wildlife preserve holds in its womb myriads of amazing life forms for you to experience...!