Ranthambore
National Park is situated in India. As northwestern
state of Rajasthan, near the town of Sawai Madhopur,
midway between Bharatpur and Kota townships. It is
surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges
and is very near to the outer fringes of the Thar
Desert. The entire area has sprawling tracts of the
desert and semi-desert vegetation. Originally a hunting
ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Ranthambore was
declared a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1980, it became
a national park and listed among the reserves protected
under Project Tiger (1973). Presently the Kaila Devi
Sanctuary, also famous for its tigers, and Mansingh
Sanctuary also form part of Ranthambore Reserve.
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| Tiger
The
tiger reigns supreme in Ranthambore. Ranthambore is
among the few places in the world where this super-predator,
symbol of power, strength and magnificence, can be observed
at close quarters. There are about 25 tigers and 40
leopards in the reserve. These are supported by a large
population of healthy herbivores. On can never have
enough of tigers. One may have seen a tiger a hundred
times, yet each sighting is greeted with the same high-pitched
intensity. Tigers can be spotted quite often in their
natural habitat even during daytime. They have been
frequently seen at the edges of three lakes—Padam
Talab, Raj Bagh Talab and Milak Talab. The park also
has panthers in sizable numbers, though they have been
spotted generally at the outskirts of the park perhaps
due to the inevitable conflict with the tiger population,
which command the ‘superior’ position amidst
the predatory cats. For spotting panthers, Kachida Valley
is regarded as the ideal place.
Water Bodies and Birds Jacanas,
painted stork, black stork, and white necked stork are
seen along the water bodies. Peafowl are found in abundance
and other birds include Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent
eagle, the great Indian horned owl, quail, partridge,
spur fowl and the paradise flycatcher.
Other Attractions Ranthambore
has large numbers of sambar, chital and nilgai. Sounders
of boar and an occasional gazelle the chinkara can be
seen, as also the Indian hare, mongoose and monitor
lizards. The lakes and pools at the park are where the
deer congregate and where it is easiest to see the animals.
Among the other local fauna are the leopard, hyena.
jackal, jungle cats, slothe bear and marsh crocodile. |
