http://sariska.com/index.html Sariska is probably one of the most visited parks in India. Unfortunately though, the main reason for this is not wildlife enthusiasm but only it's excellent proximity to some large towns like Delhi and Jaipur. The park was, as with many other parks, the hunting reserve of the royal family in the area. In this case, it was the Royal family of Alwar Rajasthan . The reserve was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and came under the "Project Tiger" as a Sariska tiger reserve in 1979. The park covers quite a large area of 800 square kilometers, 480 square kilometers of which form the core area of the national park. It is located among the Aravalli hill ranges in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Due to the presence of monuments of religious importance located within the park boundaries, the park authorities are compelled to keep the park open throughout the year. The summer months are better for animal viewing but are extremely hot with temperatures going up to as high as 49 degrees centigrade. In the winter months, the temperature touches a low of 4 degrees. Although larger than Ranthambor, it is less commercialised and has less tigers but a similar topography. It covers an area of 800 sq km in total, with a core area of approximately 500 sq km. The Northern Aravali Hills dominate the skyline with their mixture of sharp cliffs and long narrow valleys. The landscape of Sariska comprises of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravali hill range. The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses. The broad range of wildlife here is a wonderful example of ecological adoption and tolerance, for the climate here is variable as well as erratic. Sariska park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger. These feed on an abundance of prey species such as Sambar, Chitel, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur. Sariska is also well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are found in large numbers around Talvriksh. The avian world is also well represented with a rich and varied birdlife. These include Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Tree Pie, Golden backed Wood Pecker, Crested Serpent Eagle and the Great Indian Horned Owl. Feed Editor (http://www.extralabs.net) http://sariska.com/sariska_tiger_reserve.html Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Estimated Remaining Population: 3,000 Size and Physical Characteristics: The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest among all the living wild cats of the family Felidae. It has an elongated body, short neck, and compact head with a relatively short muzzle. The legs are stout and the paws are armed with retractile claws. The total body length of an adult male tiger is between 275-290 cm and that of an adult female is 250-260 cm. The adult male tiger weighs 180-260 kg whereas the adult female weighs 100-160 kg. Tigers have a reddish-brown to rust-brown coat with black stripes and a white underbelly. Variations in coat colouration occur among individuals. White and black tigers are caused by a recessive gene. Tigers are well known for their immense strength and power. They are known to bring down animals weighing almost ten times their own weight and then dragging them away to shelter. Their main prey species are herbivores, the favourites being Sambhar and Spotted deer. They eat an average of 5 kgs in a sitting and can eat up to 25 kgs in a day. A kill can feed a tiger for 2 - 4 days..Some experts say a tiger's kill success rate is as low as one out of ten attempts. Once it pounces on its prey, the tiger either kills it by snapping the spinal column at the neck as the animal is falling or by suffocating the victim by driving its sharp and long canines into the trachea. The tiger is also well equipped with sharp and retractable claws. These are mostly used for injuring, holding or cutting another animal but the power behind a tiger's slash is enough to kill too. Although the tiger prefers larger prey, it is not uncommon for it to kill small animals like monkeys, specially a mother with cubs. Tigers mostly do not try and make another kill immediately after finishing with the previous one. They usually give a 2-3 break before setting out on the next hunt. They have a life expectancy ranging from 15 - 20 years. Their breeding season begins towards the end of the monsoons and carries into the early months of winter. The mates stay together for a period of approximately 10 days. The gestation period is a short one of 105 days. Tigresses give birth to 3 - 6 cubs. 17/04/2009 12:49:40 http://sariska.com/Sariska-Wildlife-Sanctuary-National-Park.htm Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary National Park in Rajasthan, India so that you can experience the beauty and bounty of wildlife and plant life in India. Located near the Aravalli ranges in Rajasthan, India the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary supports a wide variety of wildlife such as the Nilgai, Langurs, Chausingha, Sambar, Rhesus Monkeys, Wild Boar, Chital, Spotted Deer, Bengal Fox, Indian Hare, Common Palm Civet, Ratel, Northern Palm Squirrel, Indian Grey Mongoose, and Tigers. A recent wildlife census at the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary National Park revealed that there are about 25 tigers at this national park in Rajasthan, India. The perfect way to go on wildlife tours in the Sariska Wildlife National Park is by arranging for a Jeep safari. Wildlife gazing at the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is comparatively easy as most of the animals gather near the water holes due to lack of water during the summer months. 17/04/2009 12:50:41 http://sariska.com/Sariska-Bird-Sanctuary.htm The Sariska Bird Sanctuary National Park in Rajasthan, India offers natural nesting grounds to different species of birds. Apart from the permanent residents the Sariska Bird Sanctuary National Park plays host to a number of migratory birds annually. Among the commonly sighted birds at the Sariska Bird Sanctuary National Park are birds like the Oriental White-eye, Small Buttonquail, Black Ibis, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Spoonbill, Barn Owl, Common Hoopoe, Jungle Babbler, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Inornate Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Greenish Warbler, Asian Pied Starling, Common Myna, Brahminy Starling, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Mottled Wood Owl, Temminck's Stint, Spotted Owlet, Common Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Collared Scops Owl, Common Coot, Painted Spurfowl, Jungle Bush Quail, Blue-breasted Quail, Great White Pelican, Baya Weaver, Red Avadavat, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Red-throated Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie, Coppersmith Barbet, Brown-headed Gull, Long-tailed Shrike, Dusky Crag Martin, White-throated Kingfisher, Wire-tailed Swallow, Grey-necked Bunting, Asian Koel, Sirkeer Malkoha, Common Rosefinch, Small Minivet, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Pied Cuckoo, Red Collared Dove, Laughing Dove, Rufous Treepie, Jungle Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Asian Openbill, Kentish Plover, Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Spotted Creeper, Small Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Tufted Duck, White-rumped Vulture, Pariah Kite, Griffon Vulture, Shikra, Eurasian Sparrow hawk, Singing Bushlark, Darter, House Swift and other birds. 17/04/2009 12:51:21 http://sariska.com/Vegetation-in-Sariska-National-Park.htm Sariska National Park tours allow travelers to get immerse in its pristine nature and vegetation. This north India wildlife sanctuary is a home to varied species of flora and fauna. Sariska vegetation is mainly of dry deciduous type. Around ninety percent of dry deciduous vegetation of Sariska comprises of Dhok trees. Set on rolling hills covered with dry deciduous forests the Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, India offers the right habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, birds and reptiles. Ninety percent of the dry deciduous vegetation at the Sariska National Park consists of Dhok trees and the rest of the area is generously covered with trees like Goria, Tendu, Ber, Surwal and Khair. Besides these the vegetation at the Sariska National Park consists of scrub forests and thorn thickets. The vegetation at the Sariska National Park, Rajasthan, India offers the right habitat for the animals that make this place their home. Though the vegetation is not very dense here you are unlikely to spot tigers in the daytime as the tigers at Sariska are nocturnal creatures. 17/04/2009 12:52:54