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WildLife
Corbett
National Park Corbett
National Park, national park in northern India,
in Uttaranchal state. Established in 1936, it covers an area of 520 sq km
(200 sq mi) in the Siwalik Range of the Sub-Himalayas. Its main purpose
has been to protect the plant and animal life in the valley of the
Ramganga River, especially the endangered Bengal tiger,
of which there are now about 100 in the park, and the gharial, a species
of fish-eating crocodile. The park also contains elephants, hyenas,
jackals, bears, several species of deer and monkey, and more than 600
species of birds. Its vegetation includes elephant grass and sal trees on
the valley floor, and silkcotton and kusum trees, orchids, tropical
creepers, and bamboo on the hills. Corbett National Park was the first national park to be designated in India.
Created when India was under the direct rule of the United Kingdom, the
park was first named Hailey National Park after the British governor of
the United Provinces. It was renamed Ramganga National Park in 1954, and three
years later it was given its present name in honor of Jim Corbett. Born in
India to British parents, Corbett became an authority on wildlife
conservation and played a leading part in campaigning for the park's
establishment. In 1973 the park was the first designated reserve of
Project Tiger, a nationwide campaign to save the tiger from extinction.
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The Dudhwa National Park
The Dudhwa
National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve, is located in the district of
Lakhimpur -Kheri, very close to the Nepal border. The 498.29 sq. km. Park has
fine sal forests and extensive grasslands. Tall coarse grass sometimes forming
impenetrable thickets, swampy depressions and lakes characterise the wetlands of
the Park. These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent
swamp deer, noted for their multi-tined antlers (bara-12, singha-horn). These in
turn support the predators - the tiger and leopard. Though the Park has a fair
population of tigers, they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest
cover. The grasslands
are also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting
project undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were translocated here from Assam
and Nepal, in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude Other
inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats - the
fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of
birds. Its marshes are home to a range of water-birds both local and migratory.
There are spectacular painted storks, black and white necked storks, sarus
cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great Indian horned owl
to the jungle owlet. Colourful woodpeckers, barbets, kingfishers, minivets, bee
eaters, and bulbuls flit through the forest canopy. A fragile natural paradise,
Dudhwa endeavours to protect its wild haven from the depredations of an
expanding human population. Chila Wildlife Sanctuary  Chila
wildlife sanctuary, a haven for animal watchers is just 8 kms. From Haridwar and
21 kms. From Rishikesh. Located on the banks of the Ganga river in the heart of
Shivalik hills, Chila is a part of the famous Rajaji National Park. The fauna
species include elephants, spotted deer, stag deer, blue bull, wild boar, fox,
porcupine, jungle fowls and peacocks. Beside these, migratory birds are also
seen on the river Ganga.
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