Rajaji Tiger Reserve – Uttarakhand

More than 50 species of mammals including the highly endangered Asian Elephant and Tiger found in the Park. Besides tiger, leopard, Himalayan Black bear, sloth bear, Civet, Marten, Jackal, Hyena etc, it is estimated that there are more than 350 Asian elephants in the park. Goral (Mountain Goat) – a characteristic mammals of the lower Himalayas abound in the precipitous slopes of the Shivalik hills. Three species of deer – Sambhar, Spotted Deer (Cheetal) and Barking Deer (Kakar) and animals like Wild Boar, Neel Gai. Langoor, Black Napped Hare, Jungle cat etc are also found.

Over 300 species of birds are reported from Rajaji Tiger Reserve, making it an important birding area in the Country. Of these, about 90 species are migrants, which include Pochards, Gulls, Mallards, Teals and Shellducks that visit the water bodies of Bhimgora and Virbhadra Barrage and wetlands of river Ganga. The resident Birds include Pea Fowl, Jungle Fowl, different Parakeets, Woodpeckers, Kingfishers, Thrushes, Warblers, Barbets and Finches etc. Great Pied Hornbill occupies a place of pride among the different Hornbills found in the Park.

Rajaji teems with wildlife. It harbours one of the most diverse ranges of wildlife habitats. Forests of Rajaji include the Moist Shivalik Sal Forest, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest, Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous and Khair-Sissoo forests in the Southern Slopes, Low Alluviaval Savannah woodlands cover the drier southern margis of the Park. The higher reaches of the Shivalik hills are swathered in Chir-Pine Forest.