The term wild life is generally understood to mean the animals untamed and undome- sticated, living in the forest, valleys, on hills such as tigers, leopards wild bear etc. The wildlife forms a part of animal wealth of nature of a country. They are our valuable treasure, which nature has blessed us. India in spite of its high density of population and spreading of human habitation to the remotest corners, still boasts of a large variety of wildlife. Wild life in India comprises over 350 species of animals, 12,000 species of birds and 30,000 species of insects, fishes and reptiles. Much of the wild life in India is peculiar to this sub-continent and not found anywhere else in the world.
The Indian lion which is the only lion to be found outside Africa is a native of India. One hundred years ago it ranged from western to eastern India. But it
became extinct from all its ranges and now it is only in Gir forest of Gujarat.
The clouded leopard living in eastern Himalayan forest is only found in India and Nepal. But because of deforestation their number has reduced.
The leopard cats are only inhabitating in the forest regions of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
The black buck is found nowhere else expect India and Pakistan. The black bucks are seen in the plains in Gujarat to West-Bengal and Punjab to the extreme south of India. After the intro duction of wildlife protection ACT of 1972, hunting black buck is strictly restricted. Blackbuck can be seen now at the Velavadar National park in Gujarat.
The musk deer are only found in India, in the wooded slopes and alpine zones of Himalayas.
The Indian wild ass is now seen only in Kachchh in Gujarat. But due to surra disease their number reduced and now their population is around 800.
The Golden Langur inhabits in India and also in Bhutan. The foothills along Assam - Bhutan border are their habitat. According to latest census their figure is about 200.
Lion-tailed Macaque is found in Nilgiri, Anamalai, Cardamom Hills and the Periyar Lake of India. But due to deforestation their number has been reduced.
The swamp deer is only found in India. The four-horned antelope, the Kashmir stag and the Nilgai exist only in India and in Pakistan which was also a part of India. The great Indian one-horned rhinoceros is unique to India and Nepal. The Indian bison is not a bison, but a gaur which is a species of wild ox peculiar only to India.
So the wild life of India is unique from all view points. It is most justified to say that the Indian wild life is richest in the world. To protect this unique and rich wild life, presently, our country has 86 national parks, 480 wildlife sanctuaries and 17 tiger reserves covering 45% of the total geographical area of the country.
The term wild life is generally understood to mean the animals untamed and undome- sticated, living in the forest, valleys, on hills such as tigers, leopards wild bear etc. The wildlife forms a part of animal wealth of nature of a country. They are our valuable treasure, which nature has blessed us. India in spite of its high density of population and spreading of human habitation to the remotest corners, still boasts of a large variety of wildlife. Wild life in India comprises over 350 species of animals, 12,000 species of birds and 30,000 species of insects, fishes and reptiles. Much of the wild life in India is peculiar to this sub-continent and not found anywhere else in the world.
The Indian lion which is the only lion to be found outside Africa is a native of India. One hundred years ago it ranged from western to eastern India. But it
became extinct from all its ranges and now it is only in Gir forest of Gujarat.
The clouded leopard living in eastern Himalayan forest is only found in India and Nepal. But because of deforestation their number has reduced.
The leopard cats are only inhabitating in the forest regions of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
The black buck is found nowhere else expect India and Pakistan. The black bucks are seen in the plains in Gujarat to West-Bengal and Punjab to the extreme south of India. After the intro duction of wildlife protection ACT of 1972, hunting black buck is strictly restricted. Blackbuck can be seen now at the Velavadar National park in Gujarat.
The musk deer are only found in India, in the wooded slopes and alpine zones of Himalayas.
The Indian wild ass is now seen only in Kachchh in Gujarat. But due to surra disease their number reduced and now their population is around 800.
The Golden Langur inhabits in India and also in Bhutan. The foothills along Assam - Bhutan border are their habitat. According to latest census their figure is about 200.
Lion-tailed Macaque is found in Nilgiri, Anamalai, Cardamom Hills and the Periyar Lake of India. But due to deforestation their number has been reduced.
The swamp deer is only found in India. The four-horned antelope, the Kashmir stag and the Nilgai exist only in India and in Pakistan which was also a part of India. The great Indian one-horned rhinoceros is unique to India and Nepal. The Indian bison is not a bison, but a gaur which is a species of wild ox peculiar only to India.
So the wild life of India is unique from all view points. It is most justified to say that the Indian wild life is richest in the world. To protect this unique and rich wild life, presently, our country has 86 national parks, 480 wildlife sanctuaries and 17 tiger reserves covering 45% of the total geographical area of the country.