One of the top wildlife destinations in India for tiger sightings, Sariska National Park is blessed with abundant flora and fauna. Royal Bengal Tigers are a significant attraction, attracting many wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. Tigers can be easily spotted during the day, and visiting Sariska Tiger Reserve is worth every penny. In addition to tigers, Sariska National Park has many big cats, including desert cats, jungle cats, leopards, fishing cats, and rusty-spotted cats.
The narrow valleys of the Aravallis dominate the region’s flora. The lush greenery and shrubbery in this desert area make it a must-visit for nature lovers. Around 300 species of vegetation are found in and around the national park. Among all trees, the Dhok tree covers 90% of the park’s area.
Therefore, a tour of Sariska National Park will allow you to see its rich flora and fauna, making your trip memorable. If you are looking for information on the flora and fauna of Sariska National Park, you have come to the right place. For better understanding, we have separated different types of animals, birds, and trees in Sariska. Read below to learn about the flora and fauna of Sariska National Park in detail.
Fauna of Sariska National Park
Royal Bengal Tigers rule the Sariska National Park region. They can be spotted on a jungle safari, organized during the day and night. In addition to them, many other big cats can be spotted. A jeep safari will allow you to witness large predators like the common mongoose, striped hyena, desert fox, palm civet, and jackal.
Some herbivores in Sariska are Sambar deer, four-horned antelope, bluebell, and spotted deer. In addition, around 300 species of resident and migratory birds are found here, including Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Rufous Treepie, Crowned Serpent Eagle, Short-toed snake eagle, golden oriole, Indian Pitta, and more.
Here is the top fauna in Sariska National Park. Take a look.
Mammals
Royal Bengal Tigers
The most prominent and fierce member of the Indian big cat family, the Royal Bengal Tigers are also called Indian or Bengal Tiger. Besides India, they are primarily found in China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Burma. Biologically, they are called Panthera Tigris. As per a 2019 tiger census, 2,967 Royal Bengal Tigers live in India, over 75% of the world’s total tiger population.
Their physical features are yellow to light orange with stripes from dark brown to black. However, some are white in Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. White tigers have blue eyes, while Bengal tigers have yellow. Also, no two Royal Bengal Tigers look alike. They all have a unique pattern, so counting them is easy.
These majestic creatures are known for their stealth hunting skills and are dedicated to their prey. Tigers mostly hunt at night and can eat up to 40 kg of meat in one go. An average male Bengal tiger weighs about 225 kg, and female Bengal tigers weigh 135 kg. They look much more significant in person, making it easy for wildlife buffs to spot them.
Also Check out Popular Sariska Wildlife Tour Packages
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Known to be the world’s smallest cat, the Rusty-spotted cat is one of the cutest mammals to witness in Sariska National Park. Biologically called Prionailurus Rubiginosus, these tiny creatures are nicknamed the “hummingbird of the cat family.” Many wildlife buffs also describe this cat as a smaller version of a leopard. It is called rusty due to its brown spots and reddish-gray coat.
Rusty-spotted cats are half the size of a normal house cat and weigh between 0.9 and 1.8 kgs, fully grown. Their tails are about 6 inches to a foot long. While the majority of the cats are found in India and Sri Lanka, many pieces of research show rusty-spotted cats in Bardia National Park in Nepal, too. They live in moist forests, dry bamboo forests, rocky hill slopes, wooded grasslands, and scrublands.
Approx. 40 to 50 cats exist in captivity, with about 10,000 said to exist in the wild. Due to the growing population in India, these cats are losing their natural habitat along with hunters who hunt them for pelts. Thus, they have been listed under the “vulnerable” category by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
Birds
Bush Quail
Bush Quail or Jungle Bush Quail is found in India and Sri Lanka. It lives in dry scrub and brush, open deciduous forests, and stony grasslands. For nesting, It prefers stony regions with thorny brushes. The Bush quail is a tiny terrestrial bird with a spherical shape. It can be recognized by its rusty throat and rusty, white eyebrows.
Male Bushquail have closed underparts, and females have unvarnished pinkish cinnamon underparts. They fly in groups of 2 to 7 but can also be witnessed in groups of up to 20. For their food, they depend on seeds, grass, and small insects.
The physical characteristics of Bush Quail include their 15.2 cm to 17.5 cm body. Their chin and throat are chestnut-brown, bordered by a pale yellow band with reddish-brown flecks. Their beak is brown with a black tip, and their legs and feet have reddish-brown tones.
Rufous Treepie
One of the noisiest birds in India, Rufous Treepie often feeds on treetops as an arboreal species (living in treetops). Both adult males and females of this bird species have blackish heads and breasts. The face and throat are even darker. The upper parts are rufescent-brown, which turns orangish on upper tail coverts. Their upper wing, secondary wing coverts, and tertials are silvery-grey. Remember, Rufous Treepie has nine sub-species that differ in color and size.
This bird species lives in open deciduous woodlands, mixed deciduous forests, and dry forests. It can also be found in urban parks and extensive gardens. Although it usually flies below 1,000 meters, it can reach up to 2,100 meters in elevation per its range.
Rufous Treepie birds are omnivores and feed mainly on various insects, their larvae, snails, spiders, and small vertebrates like snakes, frogs, lizards, young birds, and rodents. They also eat plants like wild figs, fruits from plants, and cultivated fruits in orchards.
Also Read:
Flora of Sariska National Park
Dhok trees cover about 90% of the Sariska National Park. This tree species is about 10 to 15 meters tall and is a significant food source for animals like Sambar Deer, Nilgai, and Spotted deer. Other trees found in the park include the Palm tree, Pipal tree, the Banyan tree, and the Neem tree. All of these trees have religious and medicinal importance in Indian culture.
Some commonly found fruit trees in Sariska include the Mango tree, Tamarind tree, Indian Blackberry (Jamun) tree, and Ber tree. Babul, Gurja, Kakera, Karel, Kikar, Salar, Kulu, Ronj, Tendu, etc., are prominent trees. The prime aquatic flowers found in Sariska’s lakes are lotus and water lilies.
Here is the top fauna in Sariska National Park. Take a look.
Dhok Tree (Anogeissus Pendula)
Dhok Tree is the dominant tree species in Sariska National Park. It is a small tree or abundant shrub in the Aravalli Hills around Jaipur. This complex tree can survive in extreme weather conditions, explaining its presence in Rajasthan’s Aravali Hills. Commonly known as the Dhok tree in North India, it is also called the Button Tree. Other places where the Dhok tree is found are Ajmer, Alwar, Chittorgarh, Banswara, and Sawai Madhopur, cities in Rajasthan. Also, these are well-stocked tree species with a height of 6 meters.
Neem Tree (Azadirachta Indica)
Also called Margosa or Indian Lilac, Neem is India’s most commonly used plant species. It is found in tropical regions and has great medicinal value. Neem also produces beneficial non-wood products such as oil, seeds, leaves, fruits, bark, flowers, and neem cake. Thus, it is known to be the most useful compared to other tree species. Nimbin is a chemical found in neem that helps in anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Neem also helps in rheumatoid arthritis, which indicates inflammation and joint pain.
Pipal Tree (Ficus religiosa)
Considered the mythical ‘Tree of Life’ or ‘World Tree’ of India, the Pipal or Peepal tree belongs to the family of Moraceae. This is a variation of the fig tree, also called the bodhi tree. The Pipal tree is considered sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism; thus, it is called a ‘sacred fig.’ It is a vast tree planted near religious places and temples. The leaf juice of this tree is used in ailing cough, asthma, ear pain, migraine, scabies, toothache, diarrhea, eye infection, and gastric problems. Also, stem bark treats diabetes, bone fractures, paralysis, and gonorrhea.
Banyan Tree (Ficus Benghalensis)
Banyan is a massive tree with extensive branches. Like pipal and neem, the Banyan tree also has medicinal properties. The trees’ leaves, bark, fig, and seeds treat ailments like dental problems, diabetes, urine infections, diarrhea, and polyuria. Banyan tree wood makes door panels, boxes, and other wooden items. Paper and ropes are made using its bark, and the milky latex is used in Ayurvedic medicines. Also, this tree is culturally essential and considered sacred by Indian people. In “Bhagavad Gita,” the holy book of Hindus, the Hindu God Krishna praises the Banyan tree.
Also Read: Top Places to Visit in Sariska National Park
Conclusion
Now you have the information about the top fauna and flora in Sariska National Park. If you wish to see them in person on a safari, plan Sariska National Park tour packages with us at affordable prices. For a hassle-free tour, we offer private transfers, guided tours, comfy stays, and tasty meals throughout the journey. If you wish to know more, connect with our travel experts today.