Wildlife plays an important role for the earth, as itscientifically balances the environment and ensures harmonious co-existenceamong beings. Indian wildlife sanctuaries are home to rare, beautiful andelusive species of animals that can be found only in our country. Fromlion-tailed macaque in the Western Ghats of India to Sangai, subspecies ofbrow-antlered deer that holds cultural significance in Manipur, here are somewildlife sanctuaries worth visiting, curated by Booking.com curates to bringyou a little closer to the beautiful species.
1. Lion-tailed macaque, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary(Kerala)
As an Old World monkey native to the Western Ghats of SouthIndia, they rank among the rarest of the 250-species (approx.) of primatesaround the world. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in theKollam district of Kerala houses and protects the highly endangered species.Spread over 172.403 sq.km, India's first eco-tourism project, ThenmalaEco-tourism Project has been formulated in and around Shenduruny WildlifeSanctuary. During your visit to the sanctuary, you can stay inside the forestsin specially built camping houses and experience the majesty of the jungle bytrekking, going on jeep safaris or bird watching, while getting a chance tospot the rare lion-tailed macaque.
2. Nilgiri marten in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu)
The Nilgiri marten, a small carnivorous mammal, is the onlymarten species native to India. They are found in moist and wet evergreenforests of the Western Ghats, living at altitudes of 150-2200 m. The animalthat usually appears of dark brown colour with a yellow-coloured patch at itsforefeet. Their name has been derived from the Nilgiri Hills, however sightingshave been reported as far north as Charmadi Ghat and as far south as theNeyyar. You can spot the Nilgiri marten at Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a pristine958.59 sq. km reserve of tropical jungle, shola forest and grassland rising to2400m and spilling over the Western Ghats into Kerala between Kodaikanal andCoimbatore
3. The Kashmir Stag in Dachigam National Park (Jammu &Kashmir)
The Kashmir Stag, also known as Hangul, is a subspecies ofelk and is native to Kashmir. Only found in the dense riverine forests ofDachigam National Park located at 22 km from Srinagar, the Kashmir Stag is listedas one of the critically endangered and rare species. With their magnificentantlers, the stag is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir. In the 1900s, therewere about 3,000-5,000 of these species found in Jammu and Kashmir and HimachalPradesh, but today, about 150 remain in the state. You can locate thesemajestic animals in the wild at the Dachigam National Park, where you can alsospot leopard, hill fox and Himalayan serow, among others.
4. Sangai in Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur)
The endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer, calledsangai, is only found in Manipur. They reside in about 15-20 km area across theKeibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, the only floating park in the world. Asthe state animal of Manipur, its significance is seen in the cultural folklorewhere sangai is the binding factor between humans and nature and killing it wasa sin. Today where a lot of conservation efforts are made to save and protectthe species, one should not miss a chance to visit the park situated at theLoktak Lake and be in the company of these rare animals.
5. Pygmy Hog, Manas National Park (Assam)
As a critically endangered species, pygmy hog is now onlyfound in Assam. These are the smallest wild pigs and piglets, and they are oneof the very few mammals that build its own home and complete it with a roof.The species is the sole representative of Porcula, suid native to alluvialgrasslands in the foothills of the Himalayas, and their extinction may resultin the extinction of the species. Of the 150 pygmy hogs left, Manas NationalPark in Assam hosts some of the rare species. The park is known for its endemicwildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare and wild water buffalo.
6. Nilgiri Tahr, Eravikulam National Park (Kerala)
As the only mountain ungulate in Southern India among just12 species found in India, Nilgiri Tahr is found only in the tropicalrainforest of the Western Ghats. With curved horns, coarse and short fur, theNilgiri Tahr is extensively found in the Eravikulam National Park (Idukkidistrict) where an estimated 700-800 Nilgiri Tahrs live. Nilgiri Tahr inEravikulam National Park occurs in two types of groups: the mixed groups and anall-male group. At the Eravikulam National Park located at the backdrop of teaplantations, one can witness the mass flowering of Neelakurinji flowers thatbloom once in 12 years and turn the carpet blue.