New Delhi: India has over 3,600 tigers, representing 75 per cent of the world’s tiger population. The tiger was adopted as India’s national animal. Many species of tigers are found in India, from Bengal tigers to White tigers.
Among all these, the Bengal tiger is the most common species found in India. The Bengal tiger is also known as Royal Bengal Tiger. But do you know where you can find these big cats in India? This article brings out the list of varieties of tigers and which national park you can find them.
Rare Varieties of Tigers and where you can sight them
Golden Tiger (Kaziranga National Park)
Black Tiger (Similipal Tiger Reserve)
White Tiger (Bandhavgarh National Park)
Spotting the Golden Tiger in Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is a popular destination in Assam, a state in northeastern India. It is known for its rich wildlife, including the golden tiger. This rare big cat has a stunning golden coat and fascinates wildlife lovers and researchers.
Kaziranga National Park is a great home for the Golden Tiger. The park has tall grasslands and dense forests that provide shelter and food for these elusive cats. The nearby Brahmaputra River and various water sources help them thrive.
The Golden Tiger’s coat helps it blend into its environment, making it hard to spot. It looks quite different from a Bengal Tiger, making it easier to identify. Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers find them beautiful and exciting to observe.
The Enigma of the Black Tiger in Similipal Tiger Reserve
The black tiger is another rare tiger variant found only in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, India. This unique type has caught the attention of scientists and wildlife fans. The Similipal Tiger Reserve covers over 2,750 square kilometres and is part of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve, named after the Simul tree common in the area.
The first black tiger was spotted in Similipal in the early 1990s. Since then, more sightings have occurred, but the exact number remains unknown. As of 2022, there are about 16 tigers in Similipal, of which 10 are black tigers. Their secretive nature and dense forests make counting them difficult.
The colour of the black tiger’s coat is due to a genetic mutation caused by inbreeding in a small group. Black tigers are not a separate species; they are a rare version of Bengal tigers, with their unique coat colour coming from a mutation in a specific gene called Taqpep.
Tracking White Tigers: Bandhavgarh and Beyond
The white tiger, also known as the ashy tiger, is a rare form of the Bengal tiger. It has white or nearly white fur with black stripes and blue eyes. White tigers have been seen in India since the 16th century. The first one was captured in 1915, but a tiger named Mohan, caught in 1951, became famous because many white tigers in zoos around the world are his descendants. White fur occurs because of a lack of a pigment called pheomelanin, which gives Bengal tigers their orange colour. White Bengal tigers generally grow faster and heavier than their orange counterparts.
Bandhavgarh National Park is known for its connection to white tigers. It used to be a private hunting area for the Maharaja of Rewa, where Mohan was discovered in the 1950s. Though sightings of white tigers are rare, Bandhavgarh’s history and occasional sightings attract enthusiasts.
Other places to see white tigers include:
- Mukundpur, Madhya Pradesh: This park focuses on wildlife conservation and breeding.
- Kaziranga National Park, Assam: White Bengal tigers may be found in the park’s forests.
- Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal: White tigers have been seen here several times.
- Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar: This zoo offers a White Tiger Safari.
India boasts a remarkable tiger population, with diverse subspecies inhabiting various national parks. This article details the locations of rare tiger variants: the golden tiger (Kaziranga National Park), the black tiger (Similipal Tiger Reserve) and the white tiger (Bandhavgarh National Park, among others). knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
