๐ Topic 02 of 6 ยท Chapter 05 ยท Natural Vegetation & Wildlife
National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir, Sundarbans, Ranthambore โ complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
๐ฏ Project Tiger & Tiger Reserves
- Project Tiger launched in 1973 by PM Indira Gandhi
- First tiger reserve: Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand)
- India has 54 tiger reserves (as of 2023)
- India has ~75% of world’s wild tiger population
- Tiger is India’s National Animal
๐ฟ Important National Parks of India
| National Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett | Uttarakhand | First national park in India (1936); first tiger reserve; Bengal tiger |
| Kaziranga | Assam | One-horned rhinoceros; UNESCO World Heritage Site; also has tigers |
| Gir Forest | Gujarat | Only habitat of Asiatic lion in the world |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal | Royal Bengal Tiger; largest mangrove forest; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Ranthambore | Rajasthan | Bengal tiger; most photographed tigers in India |
| Kanha | Madhya Pradesh | Barasingha (swamp deer); tiger; inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book |
| Bandipur | Karnataka | Tiger; elephant; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Periyar | Kerala | Elephant; tiger; Periyar Lake |
| Manas | Assam | Golden langur; pygmy hog; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Nagarhole | Karnataka | Tiger; elephant; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Sariska | Rajasthan | Tiger reserve; first park to successfully relocate tigers |
| Simlipal | Odisha | Tiger; elephant; Biosphere Reserve |
โญ Key Wildlife Facts:
โข One-horned rhino = Kaziranga (Assam) + Manas (Assam) + Dudhwa (UP)
โข Asiatic lion = Gir Forest (Gujarat) = only habitat in world
โข Snow leopard = Hemis National Park (Ladakh)
โข Great Indian Bustard = Desert National Park (Rajasthan) = critically endangered
โข Gangetic dolphin = National Aquatic Animal of India
โข Peacock = National Bird; Tiger = National Animal; Lotus = National Flower
โข One-horned rhino = Kaziranga (Assam) + Manas (Assam) + Dudhwa (UP)
โข Asiatic lion = Gir Forest (Gujarat) = only habitat in world
โข Snow leopard = Hemis National Park (Ladakh)
โข Great Indian Bustard = Desert National Park (Rajasthan) = critically endangered
โข Gangetic dolphin = National Aquatic Animal of India
โข Peacock = National Bird; Tiger = National Animal; Lotus = National Flower