Top 10 Wild Animals Found in India

India has always been known to be the home of a wide variety of species and animals. In fact, one of the best safari experiences can be enjoyed in India as there are a wide variety and types of animal species that can be spotted in the nation’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Around 25% of the Indian geography is characterized by dense forests and that is why India has a plethora of national parks. Each national park provides adequate habitat to a wide number of animal species. Talking about the same, here is a list of top 10 wild animals found in India

List of Top Wild Animals In India

10. the Indian Rhinoceros:

Usually found in the North eastern regions of India as well as in parts of Nepal, the Great Indian Rhinoceros is also commonly referred to as the one-horned Rhinoceros. It is usually found in thick areas full of grasslands and is also one of the heaviest animals found in the country. The most common place to spot the Indian animal is the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

9. Asiatic Lions:

Talking about the wild species in India, how can we forget the Asiatic lions? These animals are characterized with a light coat and usually have a thicker appearance. They are also smaller in height when compared to some of the other species of lions in the world. The fur of this species of lion is somewhere tawny in nature and can also be black in certain parts of the body. It can also be grey in certain parts. The ears of the mighty lions are always visible. The main areas where you will be able to spot lions are the remnant forest areas of Gujarat particularly in the Gir and the Girnar forest regions. Their numbers are fast declining and today we have only as many as 500 of these Asiatic lions in the country. They are certainly endangered and should be protected by the Indian Government.

8. The Asiatic Leopard:

Characterized by a large rosette like stripes, the Asiatic or the Indian leopards are certainly one of the wildest animals than can be found in the country of India. They are usually spotted in areas which are usually featured with a rocky terrain. They are not considered very social in their approach and prefer isolation unlike a few other Indian wild animals that make it to the list of top 10 wild animals in India. The main and easy prey for these creatures includes the fowl as well as the deer. One of the best places where you can spot the Asiatic leopard is the Jawai which is ideally visited in the months of October to March. The population of the wild species is quite high today but the same needs to be protected by the Indian government so that these animals do not get affected by various human activities that have endangered some of the wild species of the country.

7. The Indian Bison:

Also known as the Gaur, the Indian bison is the strongest bovine species that has been found in the world. The gaur is a massive species which is characterised by horn and a ridge on its back. Besides, the Gaur has large ears and the tail is also what you would call short. The male gaur is usually dark brown in colour. When the animal grows old, it appears black. However, the forehead is usually grey in colour. The animal is one of the largest living animals on the planet and they are really heavy animals. The elephant, the Rhinoceros, and only a few other animal stand in comparison to the Indian bison.The main regions where the gaur can be found includes the evergreen thick forests which has abundance of forest area where the large animal can find it easy to get food. It has been regarded as a highly endangered species and some of the areas where the animal can be located in India includes the Kanha wildlife sanctuary, the Bandhavgarh wildlife sanctuary, and others.

6. Jackals:

Very similar in appearance to the wolf, the Indian jackal is next on the list of top 10 wild animals in India. One of the most important sub species of the Indian jackal is the Golden Jackal which is mostly found in parts of Europe and Asia. The Indian jackals are usually smaller in size, have short legs are are really light unlike their western counterparts. They have the specific characteristics wherein they have pelts that range from golden colour to even black and brown.

In India, you can spot the Jackals in the Ranthambore National park, the Chilka Wildlife Sanctuary, and other areas of the nation.

5. The Nilgiri Tahr:

The NilgiriTahr is mostly found in the Western Ghats region of the country. The curved horns and the short fur distinguish this animal from most of the other animals of the same species. This animal is really endangered and today you can find only as many as 3,000 Niligiri Tahrs in India. The animal can be spotted mostly in the Anaimalai hills, the Nilgiri hills, the Periyar national park, palni hills, and other areas. This species really needs to be protected from the regular poaching activities and hunting that is taking away much of the population of the animal which is known as the state animal of the Southern state of Tamil Nadu.

4. The One-Horned Rhino:

The One-Horned Rhino is mainly characterized by thick skin which is usually grey in colour. They also have a pretty large stature. The most notable thing about this Indian animal is that unlike most of the other animals, it just has that one horn. In fact, the main ingredient with which the horn is made of is keratin. You will be shocked to know that our hair and nails are made of the same protein itself.

The best place to spot the One-Horned Rhino in India is the KazirangaWildlife Sanctuary. The government has really worked towards protecting the population of the One-Horned Rhino which was really decreasing to alarming rates due to a number of human activities as well as poaching.

3. The Great Indian Elephant:

The list of the top 10 wild animals of India will be incomplete without the mention of the Great Indian Elephant. They are, in fact, one of the most loved animals of the nation and that is the reason a lot of movies as well as films and festivals have been dedicated to the Great Indian Elephant. The animals are always cared for and are properly trained so that they can live in harmony with the human beings. However, as is the case with most of the other animals, the numbers of the Great Indian Elephant have been recently dwindling due to a lot of poaching activities by the humans. In India, the highest number of elephants can be found in the thick scrubs and forest region of the Periyar National Park. There is a great need of protecting the much-loved population of the Great Indian Elephant

2. The Sloth Bear:

At around 5-6 foot in height, sloth bears reside in the forests of the Indian subcontinent.  The bear is also called the labiated bear and these species of bears usually give birth to their offsprings during the early winter season. They are the type of bears that are active during the night time mostly and they prey normally on various varieties of insects as well as fruits at night most of the times. While the males weight at around 80 kgs to 145 kgs, the females are lighter in weight weighing around 55 to somewhere around 105 kgs. The main characteristics of this species of bear are that it is completely black in colour and have longer lips than most of its other counterparts.

You can spot a sloth bear in parts of lowlands in Nepal as well as Bangladesh. In India the best way to spot them is to visit the Satpura national park. Their numbers are decreasing to a great extent and the rare species needs to be protected to a great extent.

1. The Royal Bengal Tiger:

The Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal of the Country and it sure deserves the number 1 place in the list of top 10 wild animals in India. After the Siberian tiger, it is the Royal Bengal Tiger which is considered to be the largest amongst all species of tigers in the world. It is also amongst the largest cat species that exist in the world today. The Royal Bengal Tiger is blessed with a very powerful paws as well as strong jaws which is what enables them to catch hold of animals which are almost twice as large as them. It is to be noted that each tiger’s stripes are different from the other.

This species of tigers are different from the other tiger species in the sense that they love water and can be often spotted near waterholes. The Royal Bengal Tiger can today be found in Tadoba National Park, Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve, amongst others.

Thus, the above are some of the most spotted wild animals that you can find in India. This is not an exhaustive list and a plenty of other animals and species are also found in the nation.