India's wildlife is both rich and varied. More than 4% of India's land is under forest cover. The country is one of the 12-mega diversity areas in the world, in terms of animal population. India has always been a home to a rich diversity of wildlife supplemented by an equally rich variety of flora and fauna. Watching birds and animals in their natural habitats is an experience in itself.

The country offers immense opportunities for wildlife tourism. The immense heritage of wildlife in India comprises of more than 90 national parks and about 490 wildlife sanctuaries including the bird sanctuaries.

A paradise for the nature lovers, these forest areas are also crucial for the conversation of the endangered species like the Bengal Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Siberian Crane and the Asiatic Elephant. Spread across the length and breadth of India, the reserves and forest areas span- right from the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan to the Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar, from the foothills of Himalayas, the Jim Corbett National Park to six national parks in Andaman. The Indian Wildlife circuit is unmatched by any other experience.

Elephant, Deer, Panther, Wild buffalo, Wild ass, the one horned Rhinoceros, Porcupine, Snow Leopards, etc., are some of the animals you can spot in the Himalayan region.

India harbors eighty percent of the entire population of the one horned rhinoceros in the world. The Kaziranga Game Sanctuary is an ideal habitat for the rhino and a popular destination with the naturalists and environmentalists as well as the wildlife traveler.

The Great Indian Bustard and blackbuck of the Karera Sanctuary also attract a lot of tourists. The Madhav National Park originally called the Shivpuri National Park is another rich habitat for the wildlife in close proximity to the historical town of Gwalior. Being close to an often visited cultural and heritage destination, it enjoys its fair share of tourism inflow. The Corbett National Park one of the most popular National Parks in the northern region for the wildlife enthusiast as well as the holidaymakers is changing the wildlife tourism scenario. These National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are promoters of wildlife tourism in India.

India has its fair share of Tiger Reserves. India's National Animal, the tiger happens to be a symbol of strength and speed. India boasts of two-dozen Tiger Reserves. The fastest mammal on Earth, the tiger is the joy and pride of India. The Royal Bengal Tiger is amongst the most majestic species of the tiger. Sixty percent of the total population of the wild tigers in the world resides in India. Amongst the best-known tiger reserves in India is the Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. It is often referred to as the crown in the wildlife heritage of India. Tourists at Bandhavgarh can spot Royal Bengal Tigers, Cheetahs, Leopard, Gaur, Sambhar, and many more faunal species. The highly successful Project Tiger has shown once again that man can only undo in small ways the loss and destruction of natural habitat due to continuous growth and expansion of the population.

Indian wildlife has its share of native birds along with migratory birds. Several hundred species of birds can be spotted across India. The Himalayan region is well known to be the natural habitat for the Pheasant, Griffon Vulture and Ravens. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in the Indian state of Rajasthan, in close proximity of Delhi, is home to indigenous water birds, waterside birds, migratory water birds, land migratory birds, and domestic land species. Tourists from far and wide are attracted to the Bird Sanctuary. At the Dudhwa wildlife reserve migratory birds like egrets, herons, storks and cormorants share space with the ducks, gees and teals. The region of Andaman is home for rare species of birds like the Nicobar Pigeon, Megapode and the Narcondum hornbill.

National Parks
As per the National Wildlife Database of July 2004, there are 92 national parks in India spreading over an area of 38,570 kms, which happens to be 1.17% of the geographical area of the country. In addition to the above, 74 national parks covering an area of 16,630 kms are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report. The network of parks will go up to 166 after full implementation of the above report. Maximum numbers of parks exist in size class less than 100-500 kms and there are 7 parks, having more than 5,000 kms.

Wildlife Sancturies
There are 492 existing wildlife sanctuaries in India covering an area of 117,077 kms, which happens to be 3.56% of the geographical area of the country. Another 217 sanctuaries are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report covering an area of 16,670 kms. Maximum numbers of sanctuaries exist in size class less than 10 kms and there are only 2 sanctuaries, having more than 5,000 kms. The network of sanctuaries will go up to 709 after full implementation of the above report.

Biosphere Reserves
The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated under the 'Man & Biosphere' (MAB) programme by UNESCO in 1971. The purpose of the formation of the biosphere reserve is to conserve in-situ all forms of life, along with its support system, in its totality, so that it could serve as a referral system for monitoring and evaluating changes in natural ecosystems. The first biosphere reserve of the world was established in 1979, since then the network of biosphere reserves has increased to 425 in 95 countries across the world (MAB, 2003). Presently, there are 13 existing biosphere reserves in India.

Tiger Reserves
Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 to save the endangered species of tigers in the country. Starting from nine reserves in 1973-74, the number has grown up to twenty seven in 1999-2000. These project tiger areas cover a total area of 37,761 kms, which happens to be 1.15% of the total geographical area of the country. The estimated tiger population in these reserves was approximately 1,500 and the total population within the country was nearly 4,000 in 1992.