Safari through sanctuaries
- POSTED ON: 3 May, 2024
- TOTAL VIEWS: 404 Views
- POSTED BY: Archana Subramanian
- ARTICLE POINTS: 100 Points
Which sanctuaries in India host the largest concentration of an animal? Here are the numbers. Move the slider from right to left to reveal the details.
Diverse vegetation types ranging from dry deciduous to moist deciduous and evergreen forests makes Bandipur — a part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that includes Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala — ideal for pachyderms. The landscape allows elephants to migrate across different habitats.
Did you know that Corbett National Park is India’s first Project Tiger reserve? The park’s ecosystem, ranging from dense forests to grasslands and riverine belts, offers the best environment for the big cat to thrive.
Home to more than two-thirds of the global population of this endangered species, Kaziranga’s tall grasslands, marshes, and dense forests offer adequate food, water, and shelter for these large herbivores, allowing them to live longer in their natural environment.
The last remaining natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in the world, Gir has been instrumental in successfully saving this majestic species through habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and community involvement. The population of lions has increased significantly, showcasing a remarkable conservation success story.
Covering an expanse of roughly 227 sq.km., the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a habitat for a diverse array of species, such as tigers, leopards, and U.P.’s State Animal Barasingha. Named for its antlers that have a dozen points, the deer thrives in this sanctuary, which boasts dense riparian forests and moist deciduous trees like sal, teak, and jamun.
Nestled amid the lush ranges of the Nallamalais is the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), one of India’s largest sanctuaries spread across 5,937 sq.km. and five districts. The terrain comprises plateaus, ridges, gorges, deep valleys and a tropical dry deciduous forest teeming with bamboo and grasses; one of the main reasons for the 15% increase in the population of leopards.
Located in Karnataka, this protected area spans approximately 83 sq.km. The bears find refuge in its rocky terrain and scrub forests. Visitors have an opportunity to observe these elusive creatures in their natural habitat.
The showpiece of the national park, situated in the Western Ghats and known for its biodiversity, this mountain goat is endemic to the region, with the park’s high-altitude grasslands and shola forests being crucial for the endangered animal’s survival.
Located in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, the home of the ghudkhur or khur, as the Indian wild ass is known, is characterised by vast salt marshes, thorny scrublands, and grasslands.
The Kashmir stag, also known as the Hangul, is often sighted in Dachigam, named after the 10 villages that were relocated for its formation. It has remained a protected area since 1910, under the care of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and was upgraded and declared a National Park in 1981.
This 78.6 sq.km. park stands at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level. Best known for its trekking route to Sandakphu, this Alpine valley has rhododendron forests and rare species of animals and orchids, which makes it the best place to spot the only other species of panda besides the Giant Panda.