Wildlife and Protected Area Network

4.1 National Parks

Rajasthan has 3 National Parks:

National Park	District(s)	Area (sq km)	Year Notified	Key Wildlife
Ranthambhore	Sawai Madhopur	392 sq km (core); 1,334 sq km (Tiger Reserve)	1980 (NP); Tiger Reserve 1973	Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Nilgai, Sambar, Crocodile
Sariska	Alwar	273 sq km (NP); 1,213 sq km (Tiger Reserve)	1982 (NP); Tiger Reserve 1978	Tiger (reintroduced 2008), Leopard, Sambhar, Chital, Hyena
Mukundra Hills	Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar	759 sq km (NP); 759 sq km (Tiger Reserve)	2006 (NP); Tiger Reserve 2013	Tiger (reintroduced), Leopard, Sloth Bear, Chital
Desert National Park	Jaisalmer, Barmer	3,162 sq km	1981	Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck, Chinkara, Desert Fox, various raptors
Keoladeo Ghana	Bharatpur	28.73 sq km	1981 (NP)	Siberian Crane (rare), 370+ bird species, Painted Stork, migratory waterfowl

Note: Rajasthan officially has 3 National Parks (Ranthambhore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills) under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Desert National Park and Keoladeo Ghana are also designated under the same Act. Some sources count 5 units; RPSC convention recognizes 3 as the standard.

Source: Wildlife Institute of India (WII); Rajasthan Forest Department, Protected Area Network Data 2024

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is Rajasthan's — and arguably India's — most photographically famous tiger reserve. The 2022 All-India Tiger Census (M-STrIPES methodology) estimated 88 tigers in Ranthambhore, making it one of the highest-density single-reserve populations globally. The reserve is surrounded by an extensive buffer zone incorporating villages and agricultural land; human-wildlife conflict management (compensation schemes, predator-proof livestock enclosures) is an ongoing challenge. The historic Ranthambhore Fort (10th century CE, UNESCO tentative list) sits within the reserve, adding cultural heritage significance.

Sariska Tiger Reserve gained global attention in 2004-2005 when all tigers disappeared due to poaching — a catastrophic conservation failure. India's first tiger translocation from Ranthambhore was executed in 2008 (2 tigers). By 2024, the reserve had approximately 25 tigers. Sariska's recovery is a landmark case study in conservation management and has informed India's translocation protocols under Project Tiger.

Desert National Park at 3,162 sq km is India's largest national park by area. It straddles Jaisalmer and Barmer districts and is the primary habitat of the Great Indian Bustard — fewer than 100 remain here. The park also has significant fossil wealth: Quaternary fossils including Equus (horse ancestor) have been found. The park's ecological challenge is the expansion of wind and solar energy installations that fragment GIB habitat and create fatal power-line collision corridors.

4.2 Wildlife Sanctuaries — Key Sanctuaries

Rajasthan's 26 wildlife sanctuaries include:

Sanctuary	District	Area (sq km)	Specialty
Tal Chhapar	Churu	7.19	Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) — one of the world's highest density blackbuck herds (10,000+); also Bar-headed Goose wintering site
Kumbhalgarh	Rajsamand	610	Wolf, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Hyena; borders Ranthambhore–Sariska corridor
Jawai Bandh	Pali	Small	Leopard population of 50+ in rocky terrain adjacent to Jawai reservoir; unique leopard-human coexistence with Rabari pastoralists
Ramgarh Vishdhari	Bundi	481	Notified 2021 as buffer to Ranthambhore; tigers spilling over from Ranthambhore
Phulwari ki Nal	Udaipur	511	Biodiversity corridor on Aravalli; links Gujarat's Jessore sanctuary with Kumbhalgarh
Chambal Sanctuary	Kota, Bundi, Dholpur (MP/UP also)	635 (Raj. portion)	Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), Mugger Crocodile, Gangetic Dolphin, 330+ bird species
Van Vihar	Dholpur	—	Nesting site for Indian Vulture
Sajjangarh	Udaipur	5.19	Located within Udaipur city limits; leopard, sloth bear
Sawai Man Singh	Sawai Madhopur	113	Adjacent to Ranthambhore; important buffer
Bandh Baretha	Bharatpur	199	Adjacent to Keoladeo; waterbirds, mugger crocodile

Source: Rajasthan Forest Department, Sanctuary Data 2024

Tal Chhapar Sanctuary deserves special emphasis: at only 7.19 sq km it is one of India's smallest sanctuaries, yet hosts one of the world's densest blackbuck populations — an estimated 10,000–12,000 animals. The flat, open grassland habitat (chhapar = low-lying grassy depression) also attracts raptors in winter including the majestic Pallid Harrier and Short-eared Owl migrating from Central Asia.

4.3 Tiger Reserves and Project Tiger

Project Tiger was launched in 1973 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Ranthambhore and Sariska were among the 9 original Tiger Reserves designated in 1973. India's tiger population has grown from ~1,827 (2006 census) to 3,682 (2022 All-India Tiger Census) — a near-doubling in 16 years.

Tiger Reserve	Year Designated	Area (Core + Buffer) sq km	Tiger Count 2022
Ranthambhore	1973	1,334 sq km	88
Sariska	1978	1,213 sq km	~25
Mukundra Hills	2013	759 sq km	5–6 (reintroduced)

Source: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Status of Tigers Report 2022

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) oversees Project Tiger. Key regulations: a Core Area (Critical Tiger Habitat) is inviolate — no human habitation or resource use permitted. Buffer zones allow regulated human activity and focus on conflict mitigation.

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