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Wildlife in Corbett National Park
Rated amongst the finest national parks of India, the
Corbett National Park has the privilege of being the first
national park of the country, developed and nurtured by
Late Jim Corbett in the year 1936. The Corbett National
Park also enjoys the privilege of being the first national
park of India to be covered under the famous Project Tiger
(Project Tiger was lunched to protect the diminishing
tiger population in India in 1973). Located in the
picturesque surroundings of lush green forests and a
series of ridges running parallel to the valley, the park
covers an area of 520.8 sq. km and is famous for its
individualistic scenic beauty. The wildlife in Corbett
National Park is quite rich and varied, difficult to be
found in any other national parks of India.
According to a 2-year long survey conducted by a team of
wildlife specialists, the wildlife in Corbett National
Park comprises of about 50 mammal species, 580 bird
species, 25 reptile species and 110 tree species. The
varied wildlife in Corbett National Park ranges from large
mammals to the lesser ones, the birds, the reptiles and
amphibians, the fishes, the insects, the mollusks, the
crustaceans and more. But the Corbett National Park is
known for its ferocious yet handsome Royal Bengal Tigers.
The park offers congenial environmental conditions for
growth and survival of the Royal Bengal Tigers and its
prey such as 4 kinds of Deer, Wild Boar and other lesser
animals.
For your ease, the wildlife in the Corbett National Park
can be divided into the following categories.
The Mammals: In this category fall the Monkeys, the
Predators, Elephants, Antelopes and Deer, and Wild Pig.
Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger or Indian Tiger, the
other notable mammals in the Corbett National Park are
Rhesus Macaques, Langurs, Leopards, Jungle Cat, Leopard
Cat, Fishing Cat, the Dhole (Wild dog), Jackals, Red Fox,
Sloth Bear and Black Bear. The small mammals in the park
constitute of Marten, Otters, Indian Civet, Mongoose,
Black-napped Hare (Khargosh), Palm Squirrel, Indian
Porcupine and the Long-eared Hedgehog Musk-rat. In
addition, about 8 kinds of bats have also been identified,
which include the Flying Fox and the Indian Pangolin. The
Corbett National Park also shelters a significant
population of wild elephants, numbering about 200-300.
The Corbett National Park also has a significant
population of antelopes and deer. The four species of deer
found in the park include Chital (the well-known Spotted
Deer), the Para (hog deer), the Sambar (the largest
Asiatic deer) and the Muntjac (barking deer), also called
kakkar. The antelopes found in the Corbett National Park
include the Nilgai and the Goat-antelopes. The park also
shelters a significant population of omnivorous Wild Pigs
and Wild Boars.
The Birds: The Corbett National Park is home to about 600
species of birds, one of the richest in India. Some of the
most prominent birds found in the Corbett National Park
are Cormorants, the Darter, the Grey Heron, Egrets, the
Cattle Egret, the White-necked and Black-necked Storks,
the Spotbill, the Large Pied Wagtail, White-capped
Redstart, the Great Crested Grebe, Graylag Geese, White
Storks, Black Storks, Sandpipers, Snipe, the Great
Black-headed Gull, Ducks, Green Pigeons, Parakeets,
Cuckoos, Hornbills, Barbets, Woodpeckers, Orioles, Drongos,
Pies, Babblers and Thrushes, Mynas, Bulbuls, Warblers,
Tailor Bird, Robins, Chats, Redstarts, Bayas, Finches,
Indian Alpine Swift, Crested Swifts, the Dusky Crag
Martin, Striated (or Red-rumpled) Swallows, the Indian
Cliff Shallow, and the Wire-tailed Swallow.
The Reptiles: The Ramganga River and the lake inside the
Corbett National Park support a variety of reptile
population. The park provides an ideal habitat for both
the Gharial (Fish-eating Crocodile) and the Muggar (Marsh
Crocodile). Among the important reptiles found in the
Corbett National Park are the Indian Python, Viper, the
King Cobra, Krait, Cat Snake, the Wolf Snake, Common
Monitors, Lizards, Tortoises, Turtles to name a few.
Corbett National Park is a paradise of wildlife and bird
lovers and a must visit for any wildlife and nature loving
person.
To know more about Wildlife in Corbett National Park or to
reserve a wildlife safari tour to corbett national park ,
write email on
corbettpark@gmail.com
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