Indrawati National Park

The renowned wildlife park of Chhatisgarh, Indravati National Park is located in Dantewada district. Indravati River flows across the park and forms its northern boundary. Indrawati

became a national park in 1981 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under the famous Project Tiger of India. The park houses a variety of wildlife and endangered species such as Wild Buffaloes and Hill Mynas. Indrawati is blessed with lush green vegetations and a diverse wildlife park. A varied wildlife is found here ranging from Barasinghas, tigers and Monkeys, porcupines of flying

squirrels. The best time to visit the park is from 15th December and 15th June.

Periyar

Periyar National park is spread across 777 sq km in the Western Ghat mountain ranges in Idukki District. The park has a dam Mullaperiyar built on river Periyar which is now a large lake spread in 26 sq. km. area. Boating is carried out in the lake which is the best way to encounter wildlife from the closest. Trekking is also arranged for near the boat landing. The park comprises of 62 species of mammals and a variety of endangered species like the flying squirrel, wild dog, gaur,elephant, leopard, sambar, sloth bear, barking deer and wild boar. Best time to visit the park is either between April-June or July-August.

Kaziranga

Situated in the Golaghat District and Nagaon District of Assam, Kaziranga is the oldest national

park of Assam. Spread across an area of 430 sq km, Brahmaputra flows across its north and Karbi Anglong hills surround the south. This park is a world heritage site and is well known for the Great Indian one horned rhinoceros. The thick forests of Kaziranga the tall elephant grass and shallow water pools are parts of its landscape. Declared as a national park in 1974, it provides

tourists with facilities like elephant rides or a cruise in a boat on the Brahmaputra River along the park. The best time to visit the park is from November to April.

Kalakad-Mundathurai

Situated in Agasthyamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kalakad -Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve(KMTR) was declared so in 1882. This park is known for its rare plants and endangered wildlife. Spread across 665 sq km, it has dry forests in the foothills and wet forests on higher altitudes. The wildlife here comprises of Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Slender Loris, Lion tailed Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin. Best time to visit Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is between the months of September and January.

Nameri National Park

Situated 35 km from Tezpur, in the foothills of Himalayas, Nameri National Park is spread across 200 sq. km. The river Jia Bhoroli flows through it the decisuous forests of the park. This park was declared as a sanctuary on 18th September 1985 and a National Park on 15th November 1998. Nameri has a wide variety of wildlife species which range from Tiger, Black bear, elephant, Leopard, deer, jackals to a varied species of birds such as the white winged wood duck, four species of Hornbill, butterflies and reptiles are also found here. The best time to visit the park is in the months of November and May.

Wildlife Tourism in India

Approximately 4% of the total Indian land is forests in which 90 forests are national parks and 482 wildlife sanctuaries. According to statistics, India has 60-70% world's bio diversity.

In Indian forests you will find a variety of wildlife. From Asian Elephants to Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Indian Rhinoceros and Leopard, you will find all of them here. There are hundreds of bird species and it is one of the best places for bird watching.

Some National parks like Jim Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal), Bandhavgarh National Park and Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Gir National Park in Sasangir (Gujarat), Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur are rich in bird species.

History of Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife Tourism

Way back in 1973, Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore and Sariska were launched as national parks. In the year 2000, September 24th, a need arises for the departments of forest, transport, fisheries and tourism to co-ordinate their resources. But for India it still looks like a dream. Despite of chaotic management, in Dec 2004 Dec 24th,tourism saw growth due to availability of fantastic locales which were perfect to attract tourists from worldwide. In 2002, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation entered into a partnership with Indian Tourism Development Corporation development of tourism in Kerala.This included that sites for water sports, wildlife tourism, backwater holidays and mountain activities be identified. An year later in October India has more number of tourist pouring in to visit the national parks. The industry by now had started sustaining a substantial amount of people.The recent news is that Taj Hotels have entered into a treaty with ConservationCorporation Africa to promote wildlife tourism in India.

Present Situation of Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife Tourism in India

In India wildlife tourism industry in one of the most progressive. In 2006 talks of having policies to align wildlife in the country were in circulation. They wanted to assign this to think tanks which could help adopt the African Safari Model. By 2007, eco tourism was a properly introduced concept, which gained momentum but marketing of wildlife tourism was even then done poorly. The ways were unscientific and unsystematic. The wildlife is abundant in the country but still there are improper mans to exploit their real potential.