New Delhi: India has several wildlife sanctuaries which act as important shelters to the animals and plants found in the country. The biodiversity of the country is dynamic thanks to the diversity in geography and the national parks in the country help to preserve and protect the animals from habitat encroachment, loss of food and clashes with humans. As per the National Wildlife Database Centre, India has 106 national parks and they cover a total area of 44,402.95 sq km, which is 1.35 per cent of the geographical area of the country. India is a hotspot of wildlife safaris and in this article, we will take a look at the places where you can go for safari this February.
Places you can go for wildlife safari this February
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district. It covers an area of 105 sq km and was declared a national park in 1968. It became Tiger Reserve in 1993 with a core area of 716 sq km. The national park is home to variety of wild animals including tiger, leopard, gaur, dhole, sambar, chital, nilgai, Northern red muntjac, chinkara, four-horned antelope, sloth bear, wild boar, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Indian fox, jungle cat, porcupine, fishing cat, rusty-spotted cat and Asiatic wildcat.
Jim Corbett National Park
The weather remains ideal in February for a safari at the Jim Corbett National Park. Established in 1936, it is the first national park in India. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative. More than 586 species of resident and migratory birds have been sighted in the national park. Among the animals, you can see Bengal tiger, elephant, leopard, fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat, sambar deer, barking deer, chital, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, otters, Himalayan goral, langur and rhesus macaque.
Ranthambore National Park
Located in Rajasthan, the Ranthambore National Park covers a total area of 1,334 sq km. It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, located within the park. The park is known for its Bengal Tiger population and other animals including sambar, chital, blackbuck, chinkara, langurs, nilgai, jackals, rhesus macaques, striped hyenas and sloth bear.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam’s Sonitpur, Golaghat, Nagaon and Biswanath districts. It is home to two-thirds of the Indian rhinoceroses in the world and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from rhino, you can see tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer and a variety of birds.
Sundarbans National Park
The Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal and a core part of tiger reserve and biosphere reserve. The forest is dominated by mangrove trees, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile.
Periyar National Park
The Periyar National Park is located in Kerala’s Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts and it is a renowned elephant and tiger reserve. The park is a repository of rare, endemic, and endangered flora and fauna. It is a beautiful place to go for a safari in February and you can see Bengal tigers, Asian elephant, a few white tigers, sambar, gaur, Indian giant squirrel, wild pig, Travancore flying squirrel, Dhole, jungle cat, sloth bear, and Nilgiri tahr.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district. It is the oldest and largest national park in Maharashtra. Created in 1955, the reserve includes the Tadoba National Park and the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. February is a good time to visit the place and you can see several animals including the Bengal tiger, leopards, gaur, nilgai, dhole, sloth bears, jungle cats, barking deer, chausingha, honey badger, marsh crocodiles and a variety of birds.
India boasts incredible biodiversity, and February offers ideal weather for wildlife safaris. This article highlights seven exceptional national parks: Bandhavgarh, Jim Corbett, Ranthambore, Kaziranga, Sundarbans, Periyar, and Tadoba Andhari. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
