Wildlife of
Rajasthan
Keoladeo Ghana
National Park ||
Ranthambore National Park ||
Sariska Tiger Reserve
Keoladeo Ghana National Park
An
ornithologists' delight, Keoladeo Ghana National Park in
Rajasthan, popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is
sandwiched between historical cities of Agra and Jaipur. This 29
sq km park, approximately 10 sq km of which comprises of marshes
and bogs, is one of the world's greatest heronries and
historical in its own way.
The Maharaja of Bharatpur is credited for creating the national
park in 1890, though conservation was the last thing on his
mind. The government banned the indiscriminate
 shooting
of birds in 1965. Conservation efforts originally started by Dr.
Salim Ali received a further impetus when the area was deemed a
National Park in March 1982. In 1985, Keoladeo Ghana in
Bharatpur was accepted as a World Heritage Site.
Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary hosts a variety of
bird species from across the globe. Close to 380 species of
birds are found. Its shallow, fresh water marsh attracts
thousands of migratory birds. Over 10,000 nests of egrets,
darters, cormorants, grey herons and storks hatch nearly 20,000
to 30,000 chicks every year. There is an infinite variety of
migratory birds, making it one of the most inviting destinations
in the world for ornithologists, amateurs and nature lovers.
Mammals like the sambhar, blackbuck, chital, nilgai, fishing
cat, otter and mongoose also roam freely here.
The bird most popular among tourists and ornithologists is the
Siberian crane. According to field experts, this bird is known
to travel distances of up to 6,500 km migrating from the Ob
River basin region (Aral mountains, Siberia). Conservationists
are working hard to protect the Siberian crane species as they
are on the verge of extinction. Apart from Feredunkenar in Iran,
Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary is the only place where the Siberian
crane migrates. The cranes arrive in December and stay until
early March. According to ornithologists, unlike its Indian
counterpart the Siberian crane feeds on Cypress Rotents grass
(an underground aquatic root). The intriguing fact is that
Siberian cranes have a mixed diet of vegetation, fish and other
small creatures back home, but they adopt a vegetarian diet
during their stay in India.
Other 'guests' at Keoladeo Ghana include huge birds like
Dalmatian pelicans, which are two meters in length, and minute
ones like the Siberian leaf warbler, which is merely the size of
our index finger! Several other species of cranes-corcomorants,
egrets, darters, herons, storks, geese, ducks, eagles, hawks,
shanks, stints, wagtails, wheatears, flycatchers, buntings,
larks, spoonbills, kingfishers, owls and pipits-also make
Keoladeo Ghana their temporary abode.
Bharatpur heronry is one of its kind and bustles with zealous
activity. The production of chicks during the breeding season is
put at about 30,000. This avian kingdom also hosts mammalian
species like nilgai, sambhar, chital, black bucks, jungle cat
and the wild boar. The large rock python (which is spotted at
Python Point beyond Keoladeo temple) as well as its nemesis, the
mongoose, are found in appreciable numbers.
The mode of transport for getting around the sanctuary is a
bicycle. Cycle-rickshaws may also be hired. Boats are available
for hire from the ticket checkpoint. Boating is an excellent
idea for getting around the Keoladeo Lake and observing the
birds at close quarters while on holidays in Keoladeo Ghana
National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan.
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