The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Karnataka. It covers 874 km2 but only 80 km2 are open to tourism. Since the departure of humans, vegetation is regenerated. The landscapes are sometimes typical of this park, such as short stretches of grass dotted with giganstesques bamboo. There are also many points of water.

The system of two monsoons that the park is well watered and very green. Elephants are numerous and all Indian wildlife is present. Bandipur is famous for its troops of dholes, who have more members than elsewhere. The tigers are still present, are difficult to see.

In the past, Bandipur was famous for its poaching and most notorious Veerepan. He has killed hundreds of tigers during years. True gansgter, he had attack the tourists. He was shot by guards after killing several.

The early morning safari have a ghostly touch that I appreciate very much. The morning mist envelope the landscape unreal. We try to guess the forms that we glimpse while hoping the most anticipated of all: the tiger.

This national park is inhabited by humans for decades, but they pursue a great pressure on a third of the park where cattle will graze. These areas are not visited by tourists. A main road through the park pins is the dead animals (leopards, tigers and others).

Bandipur is a major park in the south. The space is airy, without the observations to be easy. The habitat is preserved and there are few tourists.

At the XIXe century, deforestation for the industry of wood and agriculture, had strongly degraded Corbett. Protection measures of this place were taken and later, at the beginning of the XXe century, one considered the idea of a sanctuary of fauna. Unfortunately, that was rejected because tiger's hunting was very appraisal by rich middle-class in evil of feelings.

In 1936, the 1st Indian national park was created (National Hailey park); it was renamed in 1954 (National Ramganga park), and took finally it name of national park of Corbett in1956. Corbett was a hunter, naturalist, writer and photographer who contributed much to safeguarding of this place.

The park of Corbett was one of the first reserves to be taken part in the tiger Project.
It was increased in 1991 with the addition of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
(map attached) The surface of conservation has 520 km2, the buffer zone 797 km2.

The park, located on chains mountainous, is crossed by the Ramganga river which finishes its race in a lake created in 1970. That has absorbed 10% of the surface of Corbett.

The reliefs of Corbett accomodate one abundant vegetation and animals into large
numbers. One still finds Indian elephants there, and rare the gavial (crocodile with the lengthened muzzle).
Practically all animals of fauna Indian are represented there.

The population of tigers is rather numerous, in glance of the other places of the surface of tiger's distribution.

The safaris are done in the jeep or with back of elephant. Accesses of the Ramganga river are privileged places of observation. But the ultimate pleasure is to be able to remain inside the park, in Dikhala. One is then immersed in a magic, marvellous world of sounds and of environments. With the shade of the tiger which rôde…

Corbett is a splendid park with environment extraordinary.
It is one of the rare places where the tiger has chances to survive in the years to come. To visit absolutely.

GIR National Park, located in Gujarat, spread over 258 km2 included in a complex protected a total area of 1412 km2.

The uniqueness of this park is that it has the world's last population of Asiatic lion, once widespread. The lions of Asia are the ancestors of African lions. A Gir, the last census recorded 359 lions.

To protect this unique and fragile species, scientists have tried to get some couples to establish a new population of lions on another site outside of Gujarat. Gujarat is very jealous of its privilege, has always declined the requests of its neighbors.

Besides the lions, it should be noted that the leopards are very present and it is not uncommon to see them.

The Maldaris a population of shepherds living inside the park in a peaceful coexistence with the lions. This tribe has doubled its population and this poses problems in this overcrowding.

The Gir park is well protected from poachers. Yet in recent years, the number of lions killed increases. The reason is simple: the bones of lions are identical to those of tigers and as they are increasingly rare …

Gir, with good management and with guides to quality, well worth the detour required by his position in western Gujarat.

This park is located on the Mekal mounts at Satpura, in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
It was created to save one cervidé rare, the stag of Duvaucel (barasingha).

This declared reserve national park in 1955, was extended by the addition of the valleys of Banjar and Halon. (see map)

In 1973, it becomes 1st Tiger reserve of the Project Tiger. Its surface is of 1945 km2 including 940 km2 for the principal surface. With proximity, PhenWildlife Sanctuary, of a surface of 110 km2, allows one exchange genetic between 2 spaces.

The park of Khana was formerly occupied by tribes, whose 27 villages were rebuilt outside.
The meadows recolonisés these sites forsaken. Since, the chitals and other deer tribe have
replaced the human ones.

The broad surface of Khana proposes large diversity of landscapes but more than all, forests offer an imposing decoration. The incredible diversity of the banian trees several times centenaries, make this place a magic place and there is no doubt that one is well in the middle of the jungle book.

In such an environment, fauna can be only very rich. One counts there nearly 200 to 300 species birds, deer tribes, gaurs, reptiles, dholes, wolves, sloth bears, jackals, leopards and tigers.

The population of tigers with Khana is in good health. It profits from a scientific follow-up since years, particularly since work of George Schaller. Maintenance and the monitoring are well carried out. The formation of the guides is good and their knowledge of fauna is invaluable.

The whole of the park has 110 tigers, a hundred leopards, 400 barasinghas, 1200 gaurs.
The principal family of tigers is that of Urmapanee, whose territory is established in Koila Bhatta and in Khana meadow. Vision of the tigers in Khana is frequent, although the distance of observation is rather large, partly because size of the place.

With my opinion,

Khana is the most beautiful Indian park, with magical environment of its forests

The Manas Tiger Reserve is located in Assam. It extends over 500 km2 within the limits of the national park (2840 km2). This is extended to the other side of the river Manas, in Bhutan, with 1000 km2 of Royal Bhutan National Park.

Formerly hunting reserve for the royal families of Cooch-Behar and Gauripur, varied and typical habitat of Manas him to be part of the World heritage site. Mothanguri, bathed in the river Manas is dominated by wooded hills of thousands of trees "semul" to the pretty red flowers, which bloom in March.

In these places there is a twenty highly endangered animals. There is (was) of rare species such as the golden langur, discovered in 1953. Tiger's census gave 89 individuals. The clouded leopard was present and the red panda also.

Unfortunately, years of occupation by armed troops and rebels have decimated animal populations and it is difficult to describe the remaining species.

The tigers, probably very few have subsisted. Their preys, deers, have also largely been poached.

Yet space is important, and the forest seems in good condition. But the prairies are gradually invaded by the cows, poachers are very active ... and tea plantations are in constant expansion. Nevertheless, a programme of reintroducing the rhino is underway.

Manas is now a park emptied of its once rich wildlife.
Tourists who will be going, will be disappointed.

In the state of Assam, Nameri was a "reserved forest" in the 19th century.
It becomes "Nameri sanctuary" in 1985, then a national park in 1998, and Tiger reserve in 2000.
The surface of the park is 200 km2. The northern border of Nameri joined the Pakhui Wildlife sanctuary and together they constitute an area of 1000 km2 of forests, bamboo and meadows along the rivers. In this habitat preserved, there is a wide variety of animals.

Nameri Park is not well known. It is visited mainly for its birds that can be seen down the river.

Located in the Western Ghats in southern India, forests of Parambikulam have long been exploited for teak. The planting of this tree has spread over 60 years, destroying a beautiful forest. Teak does not allow any other plants nearby. In 1983, Parambikulam was notified as a sanctuary after stopping the exploitation of teak. Currently the area is 285 km2. In early 2011, has just been declared Tiger reserve.

The vegetation of the reserve is still green. Some portions are planted with teak, but fortunately most varied and show the forests dense. The management of the park is intelligent. It involves the population of the villagers who live on site in small numbers. They are employed as guards, others to clean up the trails, watch wildlife, etc ...

The abundant population of herbivores present in the sanctuary can hold significant numbers of predators such as tigers and leopards. Parakikulam is known for its gaur, Nilgiri langur and its Lion tailed macaques. For birds, 268 species including 134 rare, were identified.

Parambikulam has possibility of accommodation inside the forest.
Good management of the clean park and little used attracts tourists and hikers looking for authenticity in peace.

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the district of Alwar in Rajasthan. Its surface is 866 km2, consisting mainly of dry forest on land barren and rocky. The vegetation is typical in some places.

Like many parks, Sarika was once a hunting reserve for the Maharajas. Here that of Alwar. The hunting was said to be very successful.

All species are found here. Peacocks and nilgaults are over-represented.

How not to mention the tragedy in year 2005, 24 tigers of Sariska killed with the complicity of some officials and park rangers ... Since an effort is made to reintroduce the tigers that once a livelihood for tens thousands of people, ...

In 04/2011, there are two males tigers and three tigress (all brought from Ranthambore). In 2011, there has still been no births. The authorities have relocated two of four villages with problems. Remains the road through the reserve.

One of the problems of Sariska is its location on the Aravalli hills, rich in minerals. Mining, authorized or not, is a huge problem. The large number of villagers living in the park is another. Then, the challenge of restoring a fully poached tiger population is not a small problem. Finally, the protection of all will be difficult because near Jaipur, location of several known smugglers, and a mining mafia.

Sariska is trying to recover from the tragedy. To his credit, this park has a good density of prey with a tourism less present than in the past.

In the state of Kerala, Wyanad is a wildlife sanctuary since 1973. At that time, 345 km2 was under the protection of WS. In 1992, he participates in the Elephant Project.

The forest area is now broken into two parts: the northern and southern zone.
The central area which was originally a forest, was demolished to make way for cultures and plantations.

Wyanad is unknown in the West. The sanctuary covers only part of a larger forest complex. The southern area is visible to tourists (part only). The northern zone, most dense and savage is not seen.