Spotting a tiger in the deep forests is an unmatched experience. Don’t you agree? It is an opportunity of a lifetime, especially for wildlife enthusiasts. In addition, finding exclusive flora like teak trees, crocodile bark, mahua, and kusum trees makes tours to a national park more delightful. Tadoba Wildlife Safari offers a chance to discover the natural charm of this national park. The visitor gets a candid view of the wild animals and learns more about the types of flora.
Flora and Fauna in Tadoba National Park are why this place is a hit among domestic and international travelers. Tadoba houses different species of mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, trees, and shrubs that you can explore on a safari.
About 87% of Tadoba National Park is covered by trees amidst the rich fauna. According to the 2018 tiger census, about 88 tigers and other mammals are in this national park. Reptiles, birds, and butterflies are also abundant here.
So, if you seek a wildlife experience in Tadoba National Park, check out the variety of flora and fauna found in Tadoba for an unforgettable tour.
Fauna of Tadoba National Park
The fauna makes a huge difference in Tadoba National Park. Without rich fauna, any wildlife safari is incomplete for wildlife enthusiasts. But thanks to the population of tigers, the prime attractions in Tadoba National Park, many keen visitors come here yearly for a wildlife tour. Tadoba National National Park is known as the “Land of the Royal Bengal Tiger,” spreading across 625 square kilometers.
From mammals to reptiles and birds to insects, fauna in Tadoba National Park entices visitors. These include mammals like sloth bears, jungle cats, Indian leopards, nilgai, and small Indian civets. Birds like Indian scimitar babbler, painted Francolin, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, and drongos. Reptiles like the Indian cobra, the krait, and the tree snake. And lastly, insects like butterflies and spiders.
Here is a detailed description of the commonly found fauna in Tadoba National Park:
Mammals
There is no doubt that tigers are the main attraction of Tadoba National Park. Apart from the tiger, sloth bears, gaur, nilgai, striped hyenas, four-horned antelope, blue bulls, Indian pangolins, common langurs, and porcupines are commonly found. So, it will be a sin for travelers to visit Tadoba and not spot the Royal Bengal Tigers. They are in high demand and come on top of the priority list. To spot them without hassle, a guide accompanies you during the safari.
Tiger
India contributes 70% of the world’s total tiger population. Tadoba National Park is one of India’s best places for Royal Bengal Tiger sightings. As of 2022, the national park is home to more than 115 tigers, 151 leopards, and 300 other wildlife species. This national park has a famous tiger reserve, visited by thousands of wildlife lovers to spot the big cat in its natural habitat.
Few people know this, but Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary is among Maharashtra’s oldest and most extensive forests. Jeep Safari ride takes you into the deep woods and lets you spot tigers in the wild. The tigers of Tadoba National Park are named – Maya, Sonam, Bajrang, Chota Matka, and Choti Tara.
Maya is famously called the Queen of Tadoba. She is a crowd-puller who generates most of this national park’s economy. Another is Sonam, a tigress called Queen of Telia Lake in Tadoba. Your guide will tell stories about her, and you might see her at the park. Bajrang is a dominant male and is not tourist-friendly like others. He is shy in front of the camera and likes his privacy. So, if you see Bajrang, you will be among the lucky ones.
Next, Chota Matka is the active male cub of Choti Tara and Matkasur. Like his parents, he is an energetic tiger in Tadoba who often appears in front of tourists. Moreover, he has been reported to have inherited hunting skills from his parents. Last but not least is Choti Tara. She is the daughter of the famous Tara tigress and is among the few with a radio collar around her neck to track her movements. She rules a large territory and is becoming a favorite attraction of Tadoba National Park.
Sloth Bear
Scientifically named Melursus Ursinus, the Indian Sloth Bear is among the aggressive and dangerous animals in Tadoba. They eat berries, fruits, honeycombs, ants, termites, and insects. Due to their long lower lip and palate, which they use to suck insects, they are also called “labiated bears.” The sloth bears are nocturnal and stay in solitary existence. Male sloth bears grow up to 6 feet in height and weigh 310 pounds; females weigh around 210 pounds.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list lists sloth bears as vulnerable species because of their poaching, habitat loss, and human exploitation. Kalandars are a nomadic tribe that catches them and makes them dance on the roadside to make money. So spotting them during a jeep safari in Tadoba won’t be challenging.
Birds
Tadoba National Park houses 195 species of birds of different colors, shapes, and sizes. You will fall in love at first sight when watching them in Tadoba birdwatching zones. Three endangered bird species include the grey-headed fish eagle, the crested serpent eagle, and the changeable hawk-eagle. Some famous birds in Tadoba National Park include the Grey-headed fish eagle, Crested serpent eagle, Bronze-Winged Jacana, Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker, Black-naped blue flycatcher, warblers, plum-headed parakeet, Gray jungle fowl, Crested Treeswift.
Grey-Headed Fish Eagle
Grey-Headed Fish Eagles, brown-gray from above and white below, with grey-heads, are found in Tadoba National Park. These eagles are primarily found in India and Southeast Asia. Their head is small, with a long neck and round tail. These birds have short legs, unfeathered and gray, and the talons are long and black in color. Grey-Headed Fish Eagles have yellow-brown eyes. These birds live in lowland forests and close to large water bodies. So you might see them near the lake in Tadoba.
Indian Pitta
Indian Pitta, or Pittaa Brachyura, is one of the favorites among birdwatchers in India. This bird breeds in the central northern parts of the country and, during winters, migrates to South India during autumn to places like Tadoba National Park. They are prone to collisions with glass facades and buildings. The adult Indian Pitta has a buff-colored cap from the forehead to the hind crown. The chin and throat are white, and the wings’ upper parts have shades of green. The tail is blue and is truly a delight to the eyes.
Reptiles
On your safari, witness reptiles like Russell’s Viper, the Indian Python, the terrapin, the Indian Cobra, the tree snake, the leaf-nosed snake, the common Indian monitor, the Indian star tortoise, and more. There are plenty of reptiles in Tadoba National Park, and thus, spotting them is pretty easy. Here are the common reptiles you may find:
Indian Python
Pythons are giant nonvenomous snakes that inhabit the tropical regions of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They are whitish or yellowish with tan to dark-brown blotched patterns all over them. Indian Pythons that reside in the Western Ghats and Assam are darker, and those from the Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats are lighter. They are an ancient type of snake, and all pythons have tiny projections where their ancestors might once have had legs. Indian Pythons are vulnerable species and protected, bans the trade of python products.
Common Indian Monitor
A giant monitor lizard, the Common Indian Monitor, is also called the Bengal Monitor. They are widely scattered over the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast and West Asia. Male lizards are more extensive than females, while younger monitor lizards are more vibrant than adults. The young also have dark crossbars on their throat, neck, and back. They have a white belly, are banded with dark crossbars, and have grey or yellow spots. Further, on the dorsal surface of young lizards, yellow spots with dark transverse bars connect them. And as they grow, the ground color turns light brown or grey.
Insects
Where there are forests, there are insects. And Tadoba has many! Without a guide, you won’t be able to spot the insects in Tadoba National Park easily. Insects constitute a significant part of the fauna in Tadoba. They are colorful and make you watch them for a more extended period. They commonly include spiders and butterflies. Here are some of them:
Danaid Eggfly
The Danaid Eggfly is a colorful, beautiful butterfly. Its wingspan is 55 mm to 90 mm. Their antennae, head, abdomen, and thorax are dark brown. When they turn adults, males and females get different colors and patterns. However, the male butterfly is brownish black on the upper side with circular white patches with a deep purple sheen and brown undersides with a broad white band across each wing. On the other hand, female butterflies are orange with wide black borders on the wings and a white patch with white spots. The undersides are similar to the upper surfaces.
Giant Wood Spiders
The Giant Wood Spider, Nephila pilipes, is commonly seen due to its size and web. It is a common spider in the jungles of peninsular India, making webs in open spaces spanning up to 2 m. They are uncommon in Bangalore and are only found in gardens and plots that are allowed to grow wild. Although there are six species of giant wood spiders from India, three are well-known.
Flora of Tadoba National Park
One of the largest national parks in India and the largest in Maharashtra, Tadoba National Park has an abundance of exotic flora. As per the stats, 87% of the southern tropical dry deciduous forest of Tadoba has hald, mahua, ain, teak, bamboo, and other tree species. Not only this, but the Tadoba National Park is home to lush meadows and numerous medicinal climbers and plants, which are valuable in herbal and medicinal markets.
Some commonly found trees and plants in Tadoba National Park include Ain (crocodile bark), Bija, Hald, Dhawada, Kusum, Hirda, Karaya Gum, Mahua Madhuca (Crepe Myrtle), and the Lannea Coromandelica (Wodier Tree). In addition, you will find many trees and plants inside the wildlife lodge in Tadoba.
Here is a detailed description of the commonly found flora in Tadoba National Park:
Ain (Crocodile Bark)
The crocodile bark is a known tree species in Maharashtra that grows to approx. 30 m in height and 1 m in width. The tree is fire resistant and has a highly coarse wood. It is grained and dull to somewhat shiny without any smell or taste. The fruit of ain is ovoid. Also, the wood of crocodile bark is used to make paneling, boats, cabinets, furniture, railroad cross ties, and musical instruments like acoustic guitars.
Semal Tree
Also called Bombax Ceiba, the Semal Tree is a cotton tree commonly found in Tadoba National Park. Thus, it is also referred to as the Malabar Silk Cotton Tree, as it is pretty famous in the Malabar region of India. The Semal Tree has deciduous winter leaves and a tall trunk of 20 m to 60 m, especially in wet tropical areas. As spring arrives, the Semal Tree starts to produce flowers and a capsule that, when ripens, churns out fiber like cotton.
Bija Tree
Also known as the Pterocarpus Marsupium tree, the Bija Tree is a medium to large tree but is extremely beautiful. It is 30 m tall and is deciduous. The Bija Tree is native to India and is often found in the Western Ghats in the Karnataka – Kerala region and forests of Central India.
Sheesham Tree
A medium to large tree that grows up to a height of 25 m and up to 2 to 3 m in width, Sheesham Tree can be spotted in Tadoba National Park. It is deciduous and reproduces through the medium of seeds and suckers. Sheesham Tree is also called the Dalbergia sissoo and is found in both West and East India. Further, it is referred to as the North Indian rosewood tree. People use this tree to make fuel wood, for teeth brushing, and as a pesticide as one of the fruits of the Sheesham Tree has an ethanolic extract that acts as a pesticide.
Visiting Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park is an experience in itself. Tadoba National Park is thus a heaven for wildlife enthusiasts, with much exotic wildlife in its fold. Undoubtedly, this national park is among the best places in India for tiger sightings and witnessing rich flora. For a hassle-free wildlife tour in India, choose Indian Visit wildlife packages and explore the natural wonders worry-free.