NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA Presneted by Bhavnesh Thakur
INTRODUCTION National park is a n area of scenic beauty, historical importance , etc. owned and maintained by a national government . One or several ecosystems not materially altered by human exploitation and occupation, where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites and habitats are of special scientific, educational, and recreational interest or which contain a natural landscape of great beauty. World first national park is yellowstone national park established in 1872. India's first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park , now known as Jim Corbett National Park . By 1970, India only had five national parks . Father of national parks - john muir published articles which form basis for subsequent legislation
Hemis national park of ladakh union territory is the largest in area wise having area of 3350 sq km established in 1981 South button national park of Andeman Nicobar islands have are of 0.03 sq km established in 1987 is the smallest national park As o n may 20 19 , there are 10 4 national parks. All national park lands encompassed a total area of 40501.13 km 2 ( national wildlife database) , comprising 1.23% of India's total geographical area.
DEFINITION National park is a large areas managed for scientific educational and recreational use and are not usually used for commercial extraction of resources It is relatively large area where: Ecosystems can not be altered by human activity. Govt. has taken step to prevent exploitation. Visitors are allowed under special conditions.
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES Hunting, shooting, trapping, killing capturing. Firing of guns. Burning, destroying, removal of plants Clearing of land for cultivation Construction of roads, railway line etc Surface mining Polluting water flowing through a National park
National parks are IUCN category II protected areas What is IUCN category 2 This category states that a national park is a natural area of land or sea designated to Protect ecological integrity of one or more ecosystem for future generation Exclude exploitation or occupation which are adverse to purpose of designation of area Provide foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, visitor opportunities which are environmentally and culturally compatible.
Declaration of national park The state government has the right to declare an area as a national park, by reason of its floral, faunal, ecological, zoological association or importance, required to be constituted as a National Park with an intention of protecting, propagating, and developing the wildlife in the specific area. It may be done by publishing an official notification, declare its intention behind that declaring that area as a National Park. (Subsection (1) of section 35). Provided that where any of the parts of the territorial waters suggested being including in the list of National Park, the provisions of section 26-A shall apply about the declaration of a National Park. Provided further that the restrictions of the area of the regional waters to be featured in the sanctuary shall be demarcated in consultation with the Chief Naval Hydrographer of the Central Government Even the Indian central government also has the right to declare any landscape as a National park with the proper examination of the area with the best conditional reports for the conservation and protection of flora and fauna.
Importance of national parks 1. Landforms in the national park are protected from development, extinction, and pollution and provide a natural habitat for wildlife. 2. National Park preserves historical structure 3. They not only protect animals and wildlife but sometimes can also protect tribal people and their cultures. 4. National park and wildlife sanctuary promote tourism is most visited sites to enjoy the wilderness in the distinct region. 5. Wild plants and animals are protected in national parks
No Name State Established Notable flora and fauna 1 Ra n tham b o r e National Park Rajasthan 1980 Tigers, Leopards, Boars 2 Corbett National Park Uttarakhand 1936 Tigers, Leopards, Elephants 3 Bandhavgarh National Park Madhya Pradesh 1982 Tigers, leopards, bears 4 Periyar National Park Kerala 1982 Nilgiri langur, flying squirrel 5 Kaziranga National Park Assam 1974 Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers 6 Sunderbans West Bengal 1984 Royal Bengal Tiger, Fishing Cats 7 Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh 1955 Tigers, leopars, elephants Top 20 National Parks of India
8 Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat 1975 Asiatic Lion 9 Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan 1981 Siberian cranes, ruddy shelducks 10 Manas national park assam 1990 Assam roofed turtle, golden langur 11 Bandipur national Park Karnataka 1974 Asian Elephants, tiger 12 Panna National Park Mad h y a P r ad e sh 1973 Tiger, wolf, chital, sloth bear 13 Sariska National Park Rajasthan 1982 Four- hourned Deer, Carecal, Leopard 14 Pin valley national park H.P. 19 87 Siberian ibex, chukkar snowfinch snow leopard
15 Nandadevi National Park U tt a r akha n d 1988 Tiger, leopard 16 Valley of Flowers National Park U tt a r akha n d 1980 Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Red fox 17 Hemis National Park Jammu & Kashmir 1981 Snow Leopard 18 Madhav National Park Madhya Pradesh 1959 Indian Gazelle, Nilgai, sambar 19 Great himalayan national park H.P. 19 84 Snow leopard , Bluesheep , brownbear 20 Mudumala i National Park Tamil Nadu 1940 Elephant ,bengal tiger, Gaur
Corbett National Park Established in 1936, Corbett National Park is India's first Eco Park , located in the state of Uttarakhand . Spanning across the span of 520.82 square km, Corbett National Park is India's most popular national park. It is the home to 50 mammal species, 110 tree species, 25 reptile species and 580 bird species. It is also a Tiger Reserve Project of the country preserving the endangered Bengal Tiger. Flora- sal , jamun , sisso , khair , aamla , kachnar,pine Founa - deer species ( Barking, Sambhar , Hogg and Chital ), Sloth bears , Black bears , Elephants , Yellow Throated Martens , Ghoral ( Goat-Antelopes ), Indian Pangolins , crocodiles , Indian Python , King Cobra , Common Cobra
Towny owl Yellow throated marten Golden jackel Chital (spotted deer
, Ranthambore National Park Ranthambore National Park is situated in Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan . National Park area: 275km² core area. 392km² including buffer zone. Besides tigers, the reserve has thriving bird population with more than 270 different species of birds here. Founa - bengal tiger, striped hyena, nilgai , wild boar,sambar mugger crocodile, baya ,purple sunbird, bar headed goose Flora- banyan,khajur , khair,jamun,imli,mango Ranthambore is famous for its large tiger population
Purple sunbird Baya weaver Pond heron nilgai
Kaziranga National Park Located in the state of Assam , it is a famous wildlife park of India. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Natural Site . Kaziranga covers an area of 378 km2 (146 sq mi) , with approximately 51.14 km2 (20 sq mi) lost to erosion in recent years. It cherishes its population of one horned rhinoceros , though its also a Tiger Reserve . It can also be applauded for water buffaloes, elephants and other animals. Crisscrossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra , and the park includes numerous small bodies of water. Flora- albizia,garcinia,ficus,cinnamomum , Founa - gour , swamp deer, rhinoceros,hogdeer,buffalo,elephant,fishing cat,hog badger
gour Hog badger
Gir National park Located in the state of Gujarat , it is also known as the Sasan Gir National Park. Established in 1965 , Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 2450 hectares of area. Very popular for its handsome Asiatic lions , It is a haven encompassing around 300 Tigers in its vicinity . Founa - asiatic lion, chinkara , tortoise, mugger, leopard, honey badger, four horned antelope Flora- several species of acacia, ber , jamun , ziziphus , tendu , dhak
chinkara
Periyar National Park Situated on the Western Ghats , and touching the borders of Tamil Nadu , this national park in Kerala , is very popular for its sheer beauty and tourism. This one is also a Project Tiger Reserve of the country, and also offer jeep safaris for its tourists. Spanning over 350 sq km , Periyar National Park is known for encompassing two majestic mammals – Elephants and Tiger . Located in Kerala, Periyar National Park is the most visited ecoparks of India. Herds of Indian elephants can be seen near the Periyar Lake . Founa - black nilgiri langur , barking deer, egrets, grey hornbill, wild dogs, elephants,
Black nilgiri langur Barking deer
Keoladeo National Park This is another World Heritage Site situated in Bharatpur region of Rajasthan . It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971 . It is famous for the various species of birds and migratory birds like Siberian cranes. These diverse habitats are home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian species,7 turtle species, and a variety of other invertebrates . The 29 km2 (11 sq mi) reserve is locally known as Ghana , and is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps, and wetlands. Founa -white ibis, spoonbills, siberian cranes, blue bull, python, black neck storks, geese, ducks, wild boar
Siberian crane Black buck
Hemis national park It is a high altitude national park in the eastern Ladakh Union Territory of the Republic of India . Globally famous for its snow leopards , it is believed to have the highest density of them in any protected area in the world . The park is bounded on the north by the banks of the Indus River , and includes the catchments of Markha , Sumdah and Rumbak , and parts of the Zanskar Range . The park was founded in 1981 by protecting the Rumbak and Markha catchments, an area of about 600 km 2 Founa - brown bear ,red fox, shapu , himalyan marmot, mountain weasel
Mountain weasel chukkar
Valley of Flowers Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, located in West Himalaya , in the state of Uttarakhand and is one of the very few places in India where God have showered his immense blessings. Spanning over an area of 87.5 Sq. Kms , the Valley of Flower was declared a National Park in the year 1982 . This Reserve is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2004 It is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora . This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep . Birds found include Himalayan Monal Pheasant and other high altitude birds. At 3600 meters above sea level, (3352 to 3658 meters) the gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park to the east . Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. wide.
Kanha National Park Kanha is a popular Tiger Reserve of India located in Madhya Pradesh was created in 1974 under Project Tiger. Spanning over an area of 940 sq kms , in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat . Kanha National Park houses the largest population of Tigers in India. With brilliant flora and forest areas, this park is famous for its sloth bear , leopard, wild dog , and of course the Bengal tiger . This was the park that the Central Indian Barasingha , also known as the hard ground barasingha , was brought back from the virtual edge of extinction. Founa – chital, panther, barasingha , black buck, tigers,indian wolf, rhesus macaque
Rhesus macaque
National parks of himachal pradesh Great himalyan national park kullu Pin valley national park lahul spiti Inderkilla national park Khirganga national park Simbalbara national park sirmour
The Great Himalayan National Park It is located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh . The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 1,171 km 2 at an altitude of between 1500 and 6000 m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat more than 375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. In June 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites Founa - Brown bear, goral, snow leopard, bharal , himalyan moanl , himalyan tahr
goral bharal
brown bear
Pin valley national park Pin Valley National Park is a National park of India located within the Lahaul and Spiti district , in the state of Himachal Pradesh , in far Northern India The park is located in the desert habitat of the Spiti Valley , within the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve , in the Himalayas region. Flora and fauna Because of the park's high altitude and extreme temperatures, the vegetation density is sparse, consisting mostly of alpine trees and groves of Himalayan cedar ( Cedrus deodara ) . In summer, rare birds such as the Himalayan snowcock , chukar partridge , snow partridge and snowfinch flourish in the park. Some plants within the park's alpine habitats have significant medicinal properties With its snow laden unexplored higher reaches and slopes, the Park forms a natural habitat for a number of endangered animals including the snow leopard and Siberian ibex .