Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: Ranthambore is world famous for its Tigers Panthera tigris, but not many people know that it has rich bird life as well. The Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest and wetlands support nearly 272 bird species (Chowdhary 2000). Sarus Crane Grus antigone, Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and Stoliczka’s Bushchat Saxicola macrorhyncha are among the threatened species found here. Many Near Threatened species are also found in the wetlands. The site qualifies as Biome-11 and harbours species of Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone. BirdLife International (undated) has listed 59 species under Biome-11, out of which 33 have been seen in Ranthambore. It holds some of the best biome-restricted bird assemblages of the Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest in India. During winter, the wetland of Ranthambore hosts 30-40 Black Storks Ciconia nigra and is probably the best area in northwest India to see this species.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Ranthambore National Park is famous for Tiger. The other predators include Leopard P. pardus, Caracal Felis caracal, Ratel or Honey Badger Mellivora capensis, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Hyena Hyaena hyaena and Common Fox Vulpes vulpes.
The herbivores comprise Chital Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Bluebull Boselaphus tragocamelus, Chinkara Gazella bennettii and Common Langur Semnopithecus entellus.
There are many villages along the periphery of the core area and the buffer zone. They put enormous pressure on the Park and the Sanctuary. Illegal grazing is a constant problem which the forest guards have to deal with, almost on a daily basis, at the boundaries of the Park. As the Park is easily accessible and made famous by visits of celebrities, there is also tremendous tourist pressure.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ranthambore-national-park-and-tiger-reserve-iba-india on 23/12/2024.