wildlife of india tours & photography

wildlife of india

India is a mega diverse country with only 2.4% of the world’s land area but accounts for 7-8 % of all recorded species, including over 45000 species of plants and 91000 species of animals. Of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots, 4 are present in India represented by Himalayas, Western Ghats, the North East and the Nicobar islands.

India is home to more than 100(102) National Parks, more than 500 (527) wildlife sanctuaries, 57 conservation reserves and 4 community reserves covering 5.07% of the country’s geographical area.

elephant at jim corbett tiger reserve, india

Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand. View more photos

It is a fact that no two parks or sanctuaries are same. They have different topography and home to different fauna and flora. These parks and sanctuaries are crowns of India with their own set of jewels. For example Hemis National Park in Ladakh is home of snow leopard, Dachigam National Park in Srinagar is the only place to observe Kashmir stag or Hangul. Gir National park in the west is the only abode in the world for Asiatic Lions. Kaziranga National park in the east is the best place for one horned rhinoceros. Apart from Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh  National Parks in the Central india for seeing  Royal Bengal tiger, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve  in Maharashtra has emerged latest star on the world map not only for tiger but also for leopard and sloth bear. Of course Kanha National Park is famous for hard ground barasingha(12 horned deer). Nagarhole National park in Southern India provides best of the sightings for shy leopard and Asiatic elephants. In reality each and every park or sanctuary has some specialty. It is impossible to see or visit every park in one’s lifetime.

tiger at tadoba andhari tiger reserve, india

Tiger cubs in Tadoba. View more photos of Tadoba

Although tiger is found in 13 countries of the world but dream of seeing and photographing can be fulfilled in India. Apart from Royal Bengal tiger other animals which are only found in India are Asiatic lion, wild ass, one horned rhinoceros, lion tailed macaque, hard ground barasingha, hangul, chousingha,  Indian blackbuck  and many more.

tiger safari ranthambore national park indi

Wildlife Safari at Ranthambore. Know more about Ranthambore

 

It is relevant to mention here that as forests are quite dense with thick undergrowth, light conditions are poor as compared to open grasslands of Africa. However India continues to remain at the heart of every wildlife photographer of the world as it is still unexplored and nature has not still revealed many of its secrets.

Wildlife Destinations in India

Central India

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

Royal Bengal Tiger, Sloth bear


Panna National Park

Tiger, Vulture, Marsh Crocodile, Unique topography

Kanha National Park

Barasingha, Tiger, Indian gaur, Wild dog

North India

Ranthambore National Park

Tiger


Sariska Tiger Reserve

Tiger, Peafowl


National Chambal Sanctuary

Gharial, Indian skimmer, Gangetic dolphin

Corbett Tiger Reserve

Asiatic Elephant, Birds, Tiger, Landscapes


Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary

Blackbuck, Birds


Sultanpur National Park

 Birds- migratory and resident

Dudhwa National Park

Tiger, Swamp deer, One-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic elephant, Birds


Keoladeo National Park

 Birds- migratory and resident

West India

Gir National Park

Asiatic Lion


Desert National Park

Great Indian Bustard, Desert fox, Desert Cat, Indian gazelle

Little Rann of Kutch

Asiatic wild ass, Birds


Bera, Rajasthan

Leopard, Crocodile, Birds

Velalavadar National Park

Blackbuck, Birds, Hyena

East India

Kaziranga National Park

One-horned rhinoceros, Wild water buffalo, Asiatic Elephant, Birds, Landscapes

Sunderbans Natioanl Park

Mangrove forest, Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarine crocodile, Irawaddy dolphin

About Vinod Goel

He joined Customs & Central Excise service in 1982. As a civil servant, his job takes him to various parts of India, which gave him an opportunity to capture our wild heritage, through his camera. His passion for wildlife photography started in 2004 when he was posted at Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and this passion continues till today.