Wildlife & National Parks
Rajasthan GK · वन्यजीव और राष्ट्रीय उद्यान
📋Quick Overview
Despite being mostly desert, Rajasthan has a rich diversity of wildlife. It has 3 national parks, 26 wildlife sanctuaries, and 3 tiger reserves. Ranthambore is one of India's most famous tiger reserves. Keoladeo Ghana NP is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for migratory birds. The Great Indian Bustard (state bird) is critically endangered and found mainly in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
⭐
Sariska Tiger Reserve (Alwar) was the FIRST PLACE IN THE WORLD where tigers were reintroduced from another reserve — in 2005, tigers from Ranthambore were translocated to Sariska after poachers had eliminated the entire tiger population.
📖National Parks of Rajasthan
| National Park | District | Area | Key Species & Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranthambore NP | Sawai Madhopur | 392 sq km | Most famous tiger park; one of first 9 in Project Tiger (1973); Ranthambore Fort inside; high tiger density |
| Keoladeo Ghana NP (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) | Bharatpur | 28.73 sq km | UNESCO WHS (1985); Ramsar Wetland; winter home of Siberian Crane (now rare); 370+ bird species |
| Desert NP | Jaisalmer & Barmer | 3162 sq km (largest NP in India) | Home of Great Indian Bustard (state bird); desert ecosystem; fossils of dinosaurs & plants; minimal water |
📖Tiger Reserves of Rajasthan
| Tiger Reserve | District | Established | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranthambore Tiger Reserve | Sawai Madhopur | 1973 (one of first 9 under Project Tiger) | Most tigers in Rajasthan; famous for diurnal tiger sightings; includes Ranthambore Fort inside |
| Sariska Tiger Reserve | Alwar | 1978 (Tiger Reserve) | First reserve in WORLD where tigers were REINTRODUCED (2005); Sariska fort & temples inside |
| Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve | Kota, Chittorgarh, Bundi, Jhalawar | 2013 (declared Tiger Reserve) | Newest tiger reserve of Rajasthan; Darrah/Jawahar Sagar WLS merged; core area has tigers from Ranthambore |
📖Important Wildlife Sanctuaries of Rajasthan
| Sanctuary | District | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Tal Chhapar WLS | Churu | Blackbuck sanctuary; largest concentration of blackbucks in Rajasthan; migratory birds in winter |
| Mount Abu WLS | Sirohi | Only hill station wildlife sanctuary; rare orchids; Mt Abu above sea level |
| Jaisamand WLS | Udaipur | Around Jaisamand Lake (largest artificial lake in Asia at time of construction); crocodiles, leopards |
| Phulwari ki Nal WLS | Udaipur | Corridor for tigers & leopards; southern Aravalli; forest ecosystem |
📖Key Endangered/Protected Species of Rajasthan
- •Great Indian Bustard (Godawan) — State Bird; critically endangered; only ~150 left in wild; found in Desert NP, Jaisalmer
- •Tiger (Bengal Tiger) — 3 Tiger Reserves; Ranthambore has highest tiger count in Rajasthan (~70+)
- •Chinkara (Indian Gazelle) — State Animal of Rajasthan; graceful desert antelope; protected by Bishnois
- •Blackbuck (Krishna Jinka) — Schedule I protected; Tal Chhapar WLS, Bishnoi villages near Jodhpur
- •Indian Crocodile — Chambal river; National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary (Kota-Rajasthan portion)
- •Keoladeo (Bharatpur) — once hosted Siberian Cranes (last seen 2002); now Eurasian Cranes winter here