The enchanting forests of the Ranthambhore National Park in India’s north-western state of Rajasthan host 40 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles and over 300 species of birds! The most coveted of these stunning wildlife species is undoubtedly the tiger, but Ranthambhore is also home to a healthy population of the bashful Leopards, agile antelope species such as Chinkara and Chousingha, the opportunistic Striped hyena, the elusive Jungle cat and Caracal among many others!
Every trip we made to these mesmerising jungles left us spellbound and hungry for more! This blog is our humble attempt to portray the magnificent wildlife of Ranthambhore.
Situated a mere 15 km away from the city of Sawai Madhopur and just 180 km from the capital city of Jaipur, the jungles and the brimming wildlife in Ranthambhore lures many travellers every year with the promise of peace, a tryst with the tiger against the Rajbagh Lake or the iconic Ranthambhore fort and moments full of surprises!
These beatific forests never fail to surprise or inspire us. Let us now quickly guide you through the diverse wildlife in Ranthambhore.
Mammals of Ranthambhore
The main attraction for people on a wildlife safari in Ranthambhore is the tiger and it is safe to say that a tiger sighting in Ranthambhore is seldom forgotten. But, many other mammal species such as golden jackals, wild boars, dholes, sloth bears, deer, mongooses, monkeys, etc. call these mystical woods home. Read on to know more about these beautiful creatures of the natural world!
Tigers in Ranthambhore
Over the last couple of decades, the relentless efforts towards conservation of the Ranthambhore National Park forest rangers and the forest department have borne fruit. As per the tiger census of 2020, Ranthambhore recorded 71 individual tigers, up from 45 individuals in 2014!
Ever since the era of the famed tigress known as Machli, Ranthambhore has been home to some iconic tigers and tigresses and their dynasties continue to thrive even today.
Read our blog on ‘Famous tigers of Ranthambhore’ to know more.
Tigers are apex predators and their role in the ecosystem is to ensure that the predator-prey ratio is healthy and is maintained. They are fiercely territorial and some lucky visitors have witnessed aggressive fights break out between siblings and adverse males and females in the open grasslands of Ranthambhore.
Tigers need a safe territory to hunt and mate, and tigresses rearing cubs need a haven to hide their offspring from stranger males. Tiger cubs separate themselves from their mother after 2 or 2 and half years and go their ways in search of a territory of their own.
In the oppressive heat of the summer, the Ranthambhore tigers frequent the few remaining water holes and the gorgeous lakes to cool off. They are excellent swimmers and spotting them in the Rajbagh Lake or the Padam Talao in Ranthambhore has excited tourists and wildlife enthusiasts since time immemorial!
Leopards in Ranthambhore
Leopards are opportunistic hunters that can adapt to a wide range of habitats, from rainforests to dry deciduous forests. They are also found in hilly and rocky areas and open grasslands as well as incredibly close to human habitation! Their fur helps in camouflaging them perfectly to their surroundings.
Although Ranthambhore hosts a robust population of these elusive big cats, they are rarely spotted as they are extremely shy and stay wary of their larger cousins. Leopards are crepuscular animals who are more active after sundown. They are comfortable in the canopy of the trees or sitting in shadowy caves in rocky terrains, perfectly blended making it even tougher for human eyes to sight them.
Jungle Cat in Ranthambhore
Also called reed cat and swamp cat, the jungle cat is a medium-sized cat that is extremely elusive. Jungle cats, like all cats, have acutely sharp senses. They are often hidden under the dense undergrowth or tall grasses and are very rarely spotted in the wild during safaris in Ranthambore. If you are riding on a huge happy wave of luck, you can cross paths with this unique small cat species. If it happens, consider yourself fortunate and blessed!
Caracals in Ranthambhore
Like the jungle cat, the caracal is also a medium-sized cat that is very rarely sighted in the wild as it is predominantly nocturnal and very secretive. It is easily identified thanks to its long tufted ears, its small face and large canines. Its body is robustly built and its hind legs help it jump up to 4 metres in the air to prey on birds! Apart from these avians, it also feeds on small rodents and reptiles.
Sloth Bear in Ranthambhore
Sloth bears are endemic to the Indian subcontinent, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Their diet primarily consists of termites and ants, but they also consume fruits. They breed during the spring or early summer when the forests still offer them plenty of food. Their cubs are born at the beginning of winter. Unlike other bear species, they routinely carry their cubs on their backs. This is their most unique attribute.
Some lucky visitors have witnessed the interactions between sloth bears and tigers! When two giants of the Indian wildlands encounter each other, one knows it is showtime!
Striped Hyena in Ranthambhore
Apart from the big cat species, the striped hyena is a prized sighting in the Ranthambhore National Park. Although primarily nocturnal, these scavengers are occasionally spotted during the day. They are monogamous creatures, with both males and females raising their cubs.
Indian Wolf in Ranthambhore
The Indian wolf along with the Indian wild dog or dhole is seldomly spotted in the Ranthambhore National Park. Like other wolves, the Indian wolf is known to live in packs, but is less vocal than other wolf species. The Indian wolf is an endangered species and its population is estimated at a mere 2000-3000 individuals left in the wild.
Indian Desert Fox in Ranthambhore
Endemic to India, the Indian fox, also known as the Bengal fox, is a small canid that is primarily a crepuscular animal. Bengal foxes are smaller than Asiatic jackals and have long fluffy tails. They are often spotted in pairs and females are known to share dens and raise one another’s litters.
Bengal foxes are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Their diet mainly consists of insects, rodents, small birds and fruits. They are also known to feed on eggs of several bird species, including those of the Great Indian bustard.
Asiatic Jackal in Ranthambhore
Asiatic jackals or golden jackals are small canids with a golden-brown coat, which takes a more tawny shade during the winters, pointed ears and short legs. They are often spotted alone or in pairs and once they come onto the road, they usually stay on track for quite some time before disappearing into the undergrowth. They feed on small rodents and reptiles and also scavenge sometimes.
Asian Palm Civet in Ranthambhore
Asian palm civets have long robustly built bodies, covered in hair of a greyish colour. They have a white patch on their forehead and under their eyes. They are omnivorous and help the ecosystem by dispersing seeds. Apart from fruits, they also feed on small mammals and insects and on palm flower sap which becomes palm wine when it is fermented. Palm wine is also known as toddy and thus, the Asian palm civet is also called the toddy cat. As they are nocturnal and elusive, a lot about them is yet to be discovered.
Indian Grey Mongoose in Ranthambhore
The Indian grey mongoose is a feisty mammal best known to take down venomous snakes. It never wanders too far away from the safety of its hide.
Indian grey mongooses mainly feed on snakes, small rodents, eggs and hatchlings and invertebrates. They breed across the year.
Rufous-tailed Hare in Ranthambhore
Rufous-tailed hares have a reddish-brown coat with white underparts. They have long and thin ears and their hind legs are longer than their forelegs. The males are smaller than the females, but are known to be fiercely territorial. These hares are crepuscular or nocturnal and during the day they are extremely shy and keep to the bushes, making it very tough to spot them in Ranthambore.
Nilgai in Ranthambhore
The largest antelope species in India, Nilgais or the blue bulls, are known to inhabit arid landscapes and go without water for long hours. They get most of their water intake from dewy leaves and shoots on which it feeds. They are often spotted in a herd of three to five individuals or even solitary. But, they have also been spotted in small herds of up to 20 individuals and rarely in herds of more than 30 individuals.
Chousingha in Ranthambhore
Chousinghas were trophy-hunted in the days of yore, but today, they are protected within the premises of the Ranthambhore National Park. Chousinghas are light-footed, four-horned antelopes known to feed on grass, herbs, foliage, flowers and fruits. They are often sighted in herds of up to five individuals, but are threatened by habitat loss due to agricultural expansion.
Chinkara in Ranthambhore
The other nimble-footed antelope species in Ranthambhore is the Chinkara. Also known as Indian gazelles, Chinkaras are smaller than Chousinghas and can be differentiated with the black stripes running the length of the sides of their face. They too were trophy-hunted back in the day when hunting was a matter of social rank and stature. Today, they remain elusive and are spotted occasionally near the remarkable lakes of the Ranthambhore National Park. Although most are seen alone, they can sometimes be spotted in groups of up to four or five individuals.
Blackbuck in Ranthambhore
Characterised by their long, twisted horns, blackbucks too are antelope species that are found in arid landscapes. Males are often spotted with their harems and they spend most of their time feeding.
Sambar deer in Ranthambhore
Sambar deer are larger than spotted deer and of a light brown or greyish colour. They feed on grass shoots and foliage and are the most commonly sighted animals near the Rajbagh lake in Ranthambhore feeding on the bountiful plants the lake provides. Because of their softer meat and more suitable size, they are the tiger’s favourite prey.
Spotted deer in Ranthambhore
Arguably the most common species of the wildlands of India, the spotted deer or chital is a herbivorous species native to the Indian subcontinent. They are most often seen in large numbers, feeding and staying vigilant. They let out alarm calls at the slightest sign of danger. Many times, these are not distress calls and there is no real danger of any predators in the vicinity. But they are often hunted down by big cats as well as canids.
Hanuman Langur in Ranthambhore
Another ubiquitous denizen of the woods of Ranthambhore are the frisky Grey langurs. Also known as Hanuman langurs, these monkeys are Old World Monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent. These langurs have a grey coat with black faces and limbs and a long slender tail. They are primarily herbivorous and are known to sound the alarm at the sight of an approaching predator. They too are social animals and live in a strict hierarchical structure.
Rhesus Macaques
Along with chitals, perhaps, the most easily sighted and most common animals in Ranthambhore are the Rhesus macaques. Rhesus macaques are diurnal animals and are terrestrial and highly social. Their groups can range from 20 - 200 individuals! They are mostly herbivorous and feed on fruits, seeds and roots. They have also been seen eating termites, grasshoppers and beetles. They have pouch-like pockets in their cheeks that allow them to hoard food.
Wild boar in Ranthambhore
Wild boars are one of the most common species worldwide and have adapted very well to different habitats and climates. They are an omnivorous species, and are known to eat almost everything ranging from roots and barks to fruits, insects and carrion! They are a social species and most often spotted in sounders of 12 to 15 individuals which is led by a matriarch. They can also occasionally be spotted as solitary individuals. They are mainly preyed on by tigers, leopards and wolves.
Birds of Ranthambhore
Although most renowned for the big cats and a few other mammal species, birds form a large part of the wildlife in Ranthambore. The park is home to over 300 avian species! Most of them are permanent residents, but a few migratory birds sojourn at this park during the winter. Thanks to Ranthambore’s large water bodies, these birds have ample food all year round. The best time to spot these winged wonders are between October and March, before the advent of the summer.
Apart from the common birds of Ranthambhore such as peacocks, rufous treepies, green bee-eaters, crested-serpent eagles, common blue kingfishers and the like, Ranthambhore is home to birds such as the bronze-winged jacana, the nightjar, the painted sandgrouse, the great-horned owl, and the Indian gray hornbills.
During the winter months, birds such as Flamingoes, Painted storks, Spoonbills, Sarus cranes and Greylag geese among several others take refuge in and around Ranthambhore’s famed lakes.
Ranthambhore truly is a birder’s paradise and one of the best destinations in India for birding! To know more about these stunning birds, read our blog ‘Magical birds of Ranthambhore’.
Reptiles of Ranthambhore
The Ranthambhore National Park also has a large number of reptiles. Perhaps, the most commonly sighted are the Marsh crocodiles, lazing at the bay of the lakes. The other species include Monitor lizards, Tortoise, Kraits, Cobras, Vipers Turtles and the Indian rock pythons.
Really, Ranthambhore is a full house!
Wildlife in Ranthambhore - Summary
With such a remarkable array of wildlife species, the Ranthambhore National Park is one of the most cherished forest reserves of India and a wonderful place to go on a safari. Best known for its legendary big cats, Ranthambhore is also home to several jewelled species of natural history such as Caracals, Indian wolves, Chousinghas, Chinkaras, the Striped hyena and many more.
Ranthambhore is also home to a plethora of avian species making it a birder’s paradise and also hosts several reptilian species. Spotting any beast or bird against the backdrops of Ranthambhore’s marvellous lakes, open grasslands or lush Dhok trees, is a sight to behold! The few moments of silence, the balmy breeze that caresses one’s face and the exhilaration of catching a trail and a glimpse of the big cat against the ancient ruins are ineffable feelings!
Why not experience the glory, grandeur and greatness of this timeless land? What better way to feel revitalised than being cradled by nature’s lap while cherishing the heritage of Ranthambhore?
Disclaimer: While we have highlighted some of the mammals, birds and reptiles of Ranthambhore, we must admit, the Ranthambhore National Park is home to an abundance of flora and fauna, including insects, wildflowers, plants, and other species. As a jungle safari is the means of exploring the wildlife of Ranthambhore, we have limited this blog to just species that can be sighted when on safari.
