Towards the south of Calcutta, the rivers Ganga and Hoogly divide itself into many distributaries. The speed of water is reduced and the river deposits its silt just as it is about to merge into the sea. In due course, the accumulated silt takes the shape of islands on the mouth of the rivers. These are the famous Gangetic deltas. They provide an ideal atmosphere and environment for the Sundari trees to grow. Spread over an area of almost 10,000 sq kms (now shared by Bangladesh and India), the Sunderbans are home to many exquisite animals and birds. The Indian Government has declared this 1330 sq kms of area as a national park.

Some believe that the name Sunderbans is derived from ‘Sundri’ – a plant found in the local mangroves – and ‘bans’ meaning forest. Others believe the name means ‘beautiful forest’ (’sunder’ = beautiful, and ‘bans’ = forest). The Sunderbans, extending over an area of 1,000,000 hectares, is the world’s largest delta, formed by the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghana rivers. The region has extensive mangrove forests and the contours are in a constant state of flux, caused by the monsoon flooding each year. Roughly a third of the delta is water, consisting of rivers, channels and tidal creeks up to 5 kilometers wide. The Sunderbans falls both within the India and Bangladesh, the latter having the larger share of the delta. On the Indian side there is a national park overlooking the Bay of Bengal.

The Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Dhole, Jackal, Yellow Throated Martem, Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Grey Mongoose, Common Otter, Porcupine, Clack-taped Hare are the other attractions of this area. It is possible to see elephants all over the park too. There are four species of deer residing over here. These are the Chital, the well-known Spotted Deer, Para, Kakka, and the Barking Deer. The Goat Antelopes are represented by the Ghoral.

Prominent Fauna Leopard, gaur or mithun, elephant, Himalayan black bear, takin, the wild goat, Patkoi range, musk deer, slow loris, binturong and the red panda. Species like the Assamese macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque and the hoolock gibbon.

This sanctuary was established in 1976 and, including a 22 kilometre long gorge where the Mahandi river cuts through the Eastern Ghats, the total sanctuary area is about 796 square kilometres. Dhenkanal is situated to the south of the gorge and to its north is Phulboni district. The nearest town from the sanctuary is Angul, situated at a distance of about 58 kilometres. The nearest railway station is Talcher, about 76 kilometres away, while the nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, 220 kilometres away. The forest type of Satkoshia sanctuary is one of mixed deciduous forest with predominant species of sal, mahua and bahera. The forest was at one time the habitat of tigers and leopards, but at present these faunal species are rarely found. About 10 kilometres south of the gorge at Purnakote and Labangi, Gharials had made their home in the Mahanadi river and this sanctuary was established primarily to protect the crocodile, an endangered species. A crocodile project was also set up with that objective.

The Chilka Lake in Orissa is Asia’s largest inland salt-water lagoon. Studded with small islands- including the picturesquely-named Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island- the lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sandy ridge. The pear-shaped lake spreads across 1,100 sq km, and has a unique ecosystem with a range of aquatic flora and fauna found in and around its brackish waters. An impressive array of bird life, both native and migrant, makes Chilka one of the best places in India for a bit of satisfying bird-watching. White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher’s delight: Chilka, in fact, is home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of flamingos.

Situated southwest of Puri, Chilka is the largest brackish water lake in Asia. It is doted with the islands and is noted for the many migratory birds which flock to the nesting sanctuary here in winter ( December to January). The shallow lake is about 70 km long and averages 15 km wide It’s separated from the sea only by a narrow sand bar. The railway line and the main road run along the inland edge of the lake. It’s a peaceful enough place but of greatest interests to ornithologists. Environment and human problems – such as siltation and commercial prawn fishing – are threatening this important wetland. The lake is spread over an area of 1100 sq km and is a good picnic spot. One can enjoy boating on the shimmering blue waters and enjoy fishing at leisure. There are about 160 variety of fish in the lake. Birds come here from as far as Siberia.

Chilika lake situated south-west of Puri a distance of 100km from Bhubaneshwar. It covers an area of 1100 sq. km. is the largest salt & fresh water lake in Asia. Chilika is also known as ‘Honeymoon Island’ and ‘Breakfast Island’. It is a good picnic spot.

Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to Bhitarkanika and is about 190 kilometres from the sanctuary. The nearest railhead is Bhadrak, which is at the distance of 77 kilometres. You can travel to Chandabali, which is 35 kilometres and well connected by road with other parts of Orissa. You can also take a ferry to Nalitapatia from Chandabali.

Bhitarkanika was notified as a National Park in September 1998. The place is the world’s largest rookery for the Olive Ridley, which got the nesting site at Gahirmatha (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary in 1997.

The wildlife sanctuaries and national parks spread across the country offer a fascinating diversity of terrain, flora and fauna. India has preserved vast tracts of forests and habitats in its 441 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 80 National Parks. So next time you travel to India, take a refuge in the quietude along with the wildlife and watch the exuberance of the bountiful nature in India!

Manas is home to 20 of the most endangered species of animals which include the rare golden langur, hispid hare, pygmy hog, red pandas etc. The main highlight of the park is the Giant hornbill, two subspecies of which, the pied and grey varieties are found here. The park is rich in mammals and birds, which includes elephants, tiger, panther, leopard, clouded leopard, gaur, wild-buffalo, great one horned rhinoceros, rare golden langur, capped-langur, civet cat, squirrel, sloth beat, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer, otter, monitor lizard, gharial, python, great hornbill, florican cormorants, ergets and many other species of migratory and predatory birds. The major problem in the park is rhino poaching.

The Manas National Parks in India and Bhutan are the only known home of the Golden Leaf Monkey discovered only a few decades ago. Other mammals, includethe rare and endangered hispid hare and pygmy hog. Lager mammals include the Indian elephant, gaur, water buffalo and Indian rhinoceros.

Manas National Park enjoys a very special status in terms of wildlife in the sub continent for two reasons: it has a much longer visiting season and it is home to twenty-two of the sub-continent’s fifty-four endangered species. Some like the hispid hare and pigmy hog are found only here. Yet, unlike in Kaziranga, where sightings are very common because of open spaces and swamps, in Manas a visitor may not come across too many animals. By taking up a holiday trip to Manas national park to sight the wild at such close quarters that often the visitor is left spell bound.

The Hazaribagh National Park has abundant wild animals like the Chital, Nilgai, Panther, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Tiger and Wild Boar. The Cheetal, Kakar, Nilgai, Sambar and Wild Boar are among the most easily and often spotted animals particularly near the waterholes at the time of the dusk. The population of the tigers is very less. According to 1991 Census, there were 14 tigers in the park. The tigers are really difficult to sight.

Hazaribagh National Park, about 135 km from Ranchi is also a sanctuary adorned with scenic beauties. The park has also the same features as that of Betla to some extent. The park has tigers, panthers, sambhars, spotted deer, bisons and a number of mammalian faunas. There are some towers which the tourists use to behold the beasts. A canteen is also there to cater. The park is approachable by all weather metalled road.
The Hazaribagh sanctuary, one of Jharkhand’s oldest and amongs tits most well-known protected areas, is under the twin threats of a highway expansion and a railway project. This area, still popularly referred to as the Hazaribagh National Park based on its first declaration in 1954, is located in the state’s Hazaribagh district.

Hazaribagh town is connected by well-laid network of roads to Ranchi, Dhanbad, Gaya, Patna, Daltongunj, and Calcutta via Asansol-Govindapur-Barhi. The Hazaribagh National Park is 19 km away from the Hazaribagh town.

Simplipal tiger reserve came under the umbrella of Project Tiger in 1973 and encompasses an area of 2,750 sq. kms. out of which the core area is 845.70 sq. kms. The total core is still pending final notification as a National Park. In 1972 there were said to be 17 tigers but the 1992 census estimates 95 tigers. Over 22 species of mammals, 220 species of birds and several varieties of reptiles share this forest with the tiger. Many hundreds of botanical species create a special bio-diversity for this natural system.

The Simplipal tiger reserve has been very strong and impressive in the field of research. During 1973-1982 the Founder-Dield Director the late Saroj Raj Chawdhury made studies on round the clock in-vivo studies of Sambar and Chital, time taken for food ingestion and elimination, rate of obliteration of pellet groups and the biology of the pet tigress Kheri. Since 1987 after the appointment of a research officer the research undertaken includes base-line data collection on meteorology, animal and plant inventory, monitoring research covering, improvement in the techniques for large-cat census, annual trends of tiger population and leopard populations, sighting trends of elephants at salt licks, population estimates of large herbivorous, tourism trends and development of management strategies, restoration research covering and mugger crocodile restocking including all aspects of captive management.

Sundarban Tiger Reserve consists of a cluster of islands and many of these islands have attained a height from the river inundation level that flushing of saline water with nutrients is almost absent. This has led to the deterioration in the regeneration status of some areas and any kind of exploitation of forest produce from such areas can create ‘forest blanks’ in the tiger reserve due to exploitation, and a lack of regeneration. It is therefore vital to review the felling in the buffer and multiple use zones after identifying the status of each island with regard to nutrients and seeds. With this the rate of siltation requires serious analysis to come up with new strategies to protect and conserve this unique tiger habitat. It is clear that much hard work has been done in a very unfriendly habitat in order that it is well protected.

Endangered species such as the Asiatic lion , three Indian crocodilians , Sangal liontailed macaque,Nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin, mouse deer and countless birds, reptiles and fish have been breeding successfully at Nandankanan some of the other attractions of nandankanan are the 34aquaria which are home to a large veriety of fresh water fishes . The Reptile park’s cave like entrance is guarded by a lifesize tyrannosaurus inside numerous species of crocodiles, lizards,turtles and snakes share the park with natural ease.

The Nandankanan Surakhya Parishad, which has been agitating since the tragic death of 12 tigers demanding action against the guilty officials, on Tuesday said it would oppose any attempt to shift the tigers from the zoo.

One of the rarest creature in the World , the regal white tiger ,received the new lease of life with the important reaserch and concereted efforts initiated to try and breed then in the natural invirons of Nandankanan . 1980 on a day full exitement and jubilation, the first litter of White tigers were born to Deepak and Ganga , to twany tiger . Subsiquent litters of white tigers have been distributad to zoos both at home and abroad.Currently, Nandankanan is home to over 34 white tigers.

Nandankanan’s beatifully versatile environs offer the tourists a great opertunity to be advanturous or laid back……If you donot feel like tearing aroud sighting animals and watching the birds,you can settle down to a leisurly picnic and mid-afternoon nap under the trees .If you feel a little more energetic you can meander along one of their nature trail.

Namdapha is justly a birding paradise with more than 400 species represented with some only found in this area in India. From Ibisbills and White-bellied Herons on the Noa-Dihing, to Blyth’s Tragopans, Blue-naped Pittas, Snowy-throated babblers, Cochoas, Ward’s Trogons, Beautiful Nuthatches, Rufous-necked Hornbills ~ Namdapha is the last word in exotics and the rare.

The Namdapha National Park is a combination of various species of trees and shrubs. The park is covered with wet tropical rain forest, which has thick lush green undergrowth. With more than 150 species of timber it is a botanist’s dream destination. Rare and endangered orchids, and famous medicinal herbs grow in the park.

Namdapha National Park has perhaps the richest diversity of flora and fauna in the Indian Subcontinent. This is because of its biogeographical location within the Indo-Chinese subregion and its great altitudinal variation, from 4,500 meters at Daphabum, highest point, to 200 meters in the lowest valleys. The park is largely mountainous and is drained by the noa-Dehing, Deban and Namdapha rivers. In the lower levels grow a tangled profusion of tropical rainforests, with huge Hollock, Hollong and Mekai trees intermixed with giant creepers, tall cane and dense bamboo stands. Higher up are the deciduous forests, with temperate and alpine forests higher still, where Oak, Magnolia, Pine, Betula and Rhododendrons grow in profusion. Namdapha is a botanical haven, with over 150 tree species and many flowers and orchids, including the Blue Vanda, one of the rarest orchids. It will be many years before Namdapha’s flora is fully surveyed. Namdapha’s birdlife includes the Satyr Tragopan, Kalij and Monal Pheasants, Giant Hornbill, Forest Eagle Owl and the rare White-winged Wood Duck. [principal reptiles include the Indian Python, Reticulated Python and King Cobra. For mammal watchers, the park boasts no fewer than four large cats- Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard and Snow Leopard. It also has a good population of the Hoolock Gibbon.

Kaziranga is home also to elephants, sloth bears, tigers, leopard cats, jungle cats, hog badgers, capped langurs, hoolock gibbons, pigs, jackals, porcupines, pythons, wild buffaloes, Indian bison, swamp deer, sambhars and hog deer. Besides these, the park has a respectable avian population, which increases considerably in the winter, when migrating birds visit the park.

Kaziranga has become the last breeding ground of the fabled one-horned Indian rhino, once found throughout the Himalayan foothills. But today, rhinos are confined to a few sanctuaries in Assam, Bengal, and Nepal. They are vulnerable, shortsighted vegetarians, whose much sought after horn is nothing but harmless compressed hair! The supposedly armor plated rhino only has thick folds of gray skin over its shoulders and hocks. The short squat legs, quaint chapatti-roll ears, and silly little tail make it appear ungainly. Thriving in Kaziranga’s flat elephant grass country dotted with shallow swamps and dense jungles, rhinos only have short tusks for warding off attacks. Rescued rhino calves become quite friendly, eating out of your hand if they trust you.

Kaziranga also has a commendable population of birds. One can find huge flocks of pelicans, rose-ringed parakeets apart from crested serpent eagles, grey-headed fishing eagles, red jungle fowl, Bengal floricabs, bar-headed geese, whistling teals and swamp partridges. The commonly found storks are black-necked, adjutant and open-billed. Egrets and herons of almost all types can be spotted sitting on the peripheries of water bodies fed by the Brahmaputra.

The park also has elephants, swamp or wild buffalo (Over 70% of the world population), swamp deer, hog deer, barking deer, sambar/ Hoolock gibbon, pythons, civet cat, wild boar and tigers. There is a rich variety of fresh water fowls, over 450 species of woodland and grassland birds of which 18 species are globally threatened. Birds like the egrets, pond herons, river tern, black necked storks, pelican, partridges, Bengal florican stork, pied horn bill, fishing eagle are found in abundance. The river here, has the gharial (fish eating crocodile) and dolphins.