Wildlife
Indian culture and literature advocate non-violence and respect for all forms of life on earth. Fauna and flora have enjoyed special protection for millennia, inculcated through religion. Many of the gods of the Hindu pantheon are associated with animals: Vishnu and the cobra, Shiva with the bull, or Ganesh, a god half-man, half-elephant. Jainism and Buddhism spread throughout India in the 6th century B.C., promoting a healthy diet based on vegetarianism. The first conservation laws appeared three centuries later, when Emperor Ashoka prohibited the felling of certain wild species and limited forest clearance. This tradition was damaged by the advent of colonialism. The intensive hunting practiced by English aristocrats and Indian maharajas, and the felling of forests for agriculture and land development, seriously damaged India's natural capital. It was not until 1936 and the end of the British Raj that Jim Corbett, the first National Park, was created. A few years later, the Indian Constitution established animal protection as a fundamental duty. In 1972, Indira Gandhi passed a major law banning hunting and poaching, as well as the poisoning and mutilation of animals. A year later, a national plan to save the tiger was put in place. Project Tiger is designed to prevent the extinction of this critically endangered species. India has become one of the few countries where the feline can be observed roaming free. It is the leader of an immense variety of fauna, with over 500 species of mammal recorded. Of these, 41 are threatened with extinction.
Emblematic mammals
The tiger. The national emblem, the Bengal tiger is found mainly in the north of the country. It can be found from Assam to Rajasthan, via the country's central plateau. The 2022 census counted just over 3,000 individuals, compared with just 268 in 1973. The tiger is found in 53 Indian reserves. A male tiger's territory is estimated at 130 km², where two to three females and their cubs reside under his protection and threat. Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Corbett (Uttarakhand), Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh) and Kanha (Madhya Pradesh) are the most beautiful parks in which to see the feline.
The Asiatic lion. Smaller than its African cousin and with a less voluminous mane, the Asiatic lion survives in the Sasan Gir region (Gujarat). In the 1960s, the nawab of Junagarh transformed his private hunting reserve into a nature park and saved the species from extinction. The last census recorded 600 individuals and a growing population. There is talk of relocating groups to other national parks in the country.
Asian elephant. It needs vast areas of forest and savannah to find its 150 kg of daily food. The adult male weighs almost 4 tons, while the female weighs 2.7 tons. Elephants travel in herds, family units led by females. Males are driven out of the group around the age of 11. The Asian elephant can be easily observed in the Manas or Kaziranga National Parks (Assam) or in the Wayanad Sanctuary (Kerala).
The Indian rhinoceros. Only 150 individuals remained at the beginning of the last century. The one-horned rhinoceros has been protected since 1910, and its population now numbers around 3,700. They are concentrated in the Assam National Park, where they are easily observed.
The gaur. Massive, the Indian bison can reach 2 meters at the withers and weigh 1,500 kg. Beneath its placid exterior and white "socks", the world's largest bovid proves to be very dangerous and reigns over the Indian jungle.
The lippled bear. Beneath its debonair exterior, the lippu bear is the only animal to dare challenge the tiger. It feeds mainly on ants and termites. It is characterized by its relatively small size, black coat with a crescent-shaped white collar, and long, sharp claws. It moves mainly at night.
Monkeys. Rhesus macaques and grey langurs are the most common species in India. They can be found all over the country: in forests, but also on the outskirts of inhabited areas, where they approach to steal food. Other rarer subspecies, such as the lion-tailed macaque or the bonneted macaque, can be seen in national parks and sanctuaries. The lion-tailed macaque has a black face and an imposing grayish mane resembling a halo. This arboreal primate inhabits the forests of the Western Ghats, but is rarely seen.
The dhole. This is the local name for the wild dog. They travel in organized, hierarchical gangs, reigning terror over the jungle. They have been known to butcher tigers and leopards. The dhole doesn't bark or howl, but emits characteristic barks. Physically, it resembles a cross between a jackal and a wolf.
Snow leopard. Mysterious and enigmatic, the snow leopard is very difficult to track. It lives in the high mountains of Ladakh and Uttarakhand, at altitudes of between 2,500 and 5,000 meters. It is threatened with extinction, and one rather hazardous estimate puts the number of individuals in India at 500. Its aura in the wildlife world has earned it the exclusive rights to a documentary filmed by Vincent Munier in 2021.
The leopard. Shy and nocturnal, leopards are hard to spot in national parks. But it's there! It prefers an open forest habitat and often hides in the treetops, where it can sleep in complete safety.
The nilgaut. With the body of a horse and the head of a cow, this is actually an antelope. Quite common in northern India, it can be spotted by its bluish-gray coat.
Barasingha. This twelve-oared deer(barah means "twelve" in Hindi) has practically disappeared from the Indian subcontinent. It can only be seen in Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh).
Other mammals
A variety of deer and antelope species can be observed, even though most of these are found in protected areas, due to competition with domestic animals and the risk of disease transmission. These include Indian gazelles(chinkara), Indian antelopes(blackbucks), sambars, India's largest deer, barking deer(muntjac) and the tiny mouse deer. You can also see wild buffalo, striped hyena, wildboar, jackal, fox and wolf in forest areas. Smaller mammals include mongooses, known for killing snakes, and giant squirrels.
Reptiles, amphibians and insects
India is home to over 900 different species of reptiles and amphibians, representing just over 5% of the world's variety. These include snakes such as the king cobra and the python, but also the crocodile and its cousin the gharial with its long, flattened mouth, the freshwater turtle, the chameleon, the varan, several types of lizard, the gecko, the frog... Most of these species are rarely seen. Your best chance of encountering a cobra is at a market or fair, being handled by a snake charmer... and that's just as well! Snakes hibernate underground in winter, but in monsoon season you have to watch where you step. As for frogs, India boasts 337 different species. You'll hear them croaking loudly as night falls. The country also boasts a multitude of spiders, such as the salticidae or jumping spider, or the poisonous theridiidae. Not to mention a multitude of insects, including several varieties of colorful butterflies. Many insects are vectors of disease or parasites, the most common being mosquitoes, which can transmit malaria or dengue fever, mainly in remote and wild areas.
The birds
In 2021, there were 1,371 different bird species in the country, of which 81 are endemic and 212 are in danger of extinction. The most emblematic is the majestic blue peacock, India's national bird. A symbol of immortality, fertility and beauty, once revered by the maharajas, its magnificent deep-blue feathers can be seen all over the country. It's worth noting that the peacock changes its plumage every year. They lose their feathers during the monsoon season. They grow back in autumn, reaching their full majesty at the end of winter, when they parade. Other notable species include the long-billed kingfisher, of which there are 12 varieties. The common kingfisher is easily recognized by its bluish back and reddish belly. You'll spot it near freshwater streams, perched on a branch from which it fishes for fry. The raven, also known as the Indian crow, is omnipresent and usually in large numbers. The territory is also home to eagles, the Indian vulture, the Malabar hornbill, the red-whiskered nightingale, the woodpecker, the waterfowl, the black-hooded oriole, the laughing thrush, the rowing drongo, with its two long filaments... Many species of migratory birds cross India and stop over in winter. Most species come from Asia Minor and Central Asia, crossing the Himalayas to find a more favorable climate. The bird sanctuaries of Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan) and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (Kerala) are home to hundreds of species in winter.
Flora
India's flora comprises some 45,000 different species. With its varied topography and subtropical to tropical climate, this great diversity of plants is found throughout the country. Only the high peaks of the Himalayas are completely barren. As a result, Indian landscapes are extremely diverse: evergreen forests in the northeast; deciduous forests on the plains and in the swampy expanses of Bengal and Madhya Pradesh; orchards in Kashmir; pine forests in the Himalayan foothills; xerophytic plants in the Thar desert, mainly acacia and babul(Mimosa arabica); evergreen forests in the Western Ghats; coconut groves on the Malabar and Konkan coasts.. Central India and the Himalayan fringe have been largely deforested to make way for agriculture. Most of the remaining forested areas have been transformed into protected zones for flora and fauna. The peasants who used to live in these areas have been relocated to the outskirts of these reserves.
Emblematic flora
The banyan tree. Often huge and easily recognizable by its aerial roots, it provides generous shade in squares. The Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose botanical garden in Howrah (West Bengal) is home to a specimen that covers an area of almost one and a half hectares! This makes it the largest tree in the world.
Teak (Tectona grandis). This tree grows in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. It can reach 40 meters when fully grown. Its straight trunk and hard wood are highly prized in construction. In India, it is widely used for window towers and doors, as main beams and columns in houses, and for making furniture. Teak has the advantage of being resistant to termites and other insects, as well as to water.
Sal (Shorea robusta). The British favored the use of this very hard, long-wooded tree for railroad construction. The British practically wiped out the sal forests that were once everywhere in the north of the sub-continent. Fine examples can still be found in the central forests of the country.
The illipé (Madhuca longifolia), called mauha in Hindi, is another of the country's characteristic trees. It can be found all over the subcontinent, in tropical zones as well as on the central plateau. At the end of the day, the tree discharges the water collected during the day, giving the impression of rain when sheltered under its leaves.
The mango tree (Mangifera indica). This tree is the darling of the North Indians. Robust, it lives long enough to reach 18 meters in height. Its tasty fruit is eagerly awaited as pickles, lassi, juice or snack. It is often planted in the middle of a field, as its evergreen foliage provides welcome shade on hot summer days.
Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). An emblematic tree of southern India, its fruit is fully utilized. The flesh is used fresh or dried in cooking; it is also pressed to extract milk or oil. The shell is dried and the fibers recovered to produce mattresses, mats and rope.
Bamboo. There are 148 different species of bamboo in India. Whether cultivated or wild, bamboo grows mainly in the south and northeast, as it needs water to grow. The biggest, strongest bamboos are used to build houses on stilts, particularly in the north-east. India has become the world's leading producer of bamboo, notably for its textile industry.
The lotus is the national flower. It is used extensively in the ancient architecture of temples and houses. The flower is stylized in the pillars supporting arches and ceilings. It is a symbol of good auspices.
The marigold. As its name suggests, this variety of carnation originates from Bolivia and Mexico. It was given its name when the West Indies were still called the West Indies. The flower has acclimatized very well in northern India, and is widely used to make garlands for temple offerings or as a gesture of welcome.
Neelakurinji. This flower, endemic to the Western Ghats, grows only in the Shola forest, part of the Eravikulam National Park (Kerala). It is unique in that it only flowers every 12 years. It then covers the hills with a splendid mauve blanket. It last flowered in 2018. We'll have to wait until 2030 for the next one... Be patient.
