Flora and fauna of Rajasthan

Wildlife of Rajasthan comprises the flora and fauna of the state of Rajasthan, India. The region ranges from the arid Thar Desert to the ancient Aravalli Range, and important wetlands such as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Continuous human habitation since the Indus Valley Civilisation at sites like Kalibangan and Balathal has influenced local ecosystems over millennia.

Geography

Rajasthan is India’s largest state by area. It borders Pakistan to the west and covers:

• Thar Desert: sand dunes, rocky outcrops, saline depressions; annual rainfall 100–500 mm.
• Aravalli Range: SW–NE fold mountains rising to ~1 700 m at Mount Abu.
• Eastern plains and wetlands: alluvial areas in Bharatpur and Dausa districts.
• Mount Abu: the state’s only hill station with subtropical evergreen forests.

Ecosystems and vegetation types

Thar Desert

• Xerophytic shrubs and trees: Prosopis cineraria, Tecomella undulata, Acacia spp.
• Grasses: Lasiurus sindicus (sewan grass)
• “Greening” trends since late 20th century due to monsoon variability and the Indira Gandhi Canal.

Aravalli Hills

• Lower slopes: tropical thorn and dry deciduous forests (Tectona grandis, Acacia spp.).
• Mount Abu: subtropical evergreen forests with endemic orchids, bryophytes and freshwater algae.
• Acts as corridor for wildlife movement and barrier between desert and plains.

Wetlands

• Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur; ~29 km²; UNESCO World Heritage Site): wintering ground for >350 waterfowl species.
• Sambhar Lake: India’s largest salt lake, important for flamingos and halophytes (Salvadora spp.).

Other forest types

• Tropical thorn forests: western Rajasthan.
• Dry deciduous forests: eastern and southern districts.
• Subtropical evergreen forests: Mount Abu highlands.
• Bamboo and riverine forests: in moist southeastern Aravallis.

Flora

Regional representative species include:

Thar Desert

:* Prosopis cineraria (khejri; state tree)

:* Tecomella undulata (rohida; state flower)

:* Ziziphus spp., Acacia spp.

:* Lasiurus sindicus

Aravalli Range

:* Tectona grandis (teak)

:* Diverse orchids at Mount Abu

Wetlands

:* Nelumbo nucifera (lotus), Nymphaea spp.

:* Salvadora oleoides, S. persica

Other forests

:* Shorea robusta, Madhuca longifolia, Diospyros melanoxylon

:* Bamboo spp.

Fauna

Mammals

Common mammals

Rare mammals

Recently reported mammals

Birds

Over 500 species have been recorded in Rajasthan.

Reptiles and amphibians

Insects and other invertebrates

Insects from >14 orders (Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera), including desert locusts, butterflies, beetles, bees and ants. Arachnids include scorpions (e.g. Hottentotta tamulus) and spiders.

• Giant wood spider (Nephila pilipes)

Protected areas

National parks

• Ranthambore National Park (Sawai Madhopur; 1411 km²)
• Sariska Tiger Reserve (Alwar; 1213 km²)
• Desert National Park (Jaisalmer & Barmer; 3162 km²)
• Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur; 28.7 km²)
• Mukundra Hills National Park (Kota; 759 km²)
• Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (Bundi;1502 km²)

Wildlife sanctuaries

• Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary
• Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary
• Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
• Phulwari ki Nal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bhensrodgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sawai Madhopur Wildlife Sanctuary

Conservation reserves and wetlands

• Sundha Mata Conservation Reserve
• Umedganj Bird Conservation Reserve
• Gudha Bisnoiyan Conservation Reserve
• Shakambhari Conservation Reserve
• Jodbeed Gadhwala Conservation Reserve
• Jhalana Amagarh Leopard Conservation Reserve
• Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve

Conservation efforts

Government initiatives

• Project Tiger: tiger reserves at Ranthambore and Sariska under NTCA.
• Project Great Indian Bustard: launched 5 June 2013 for captive breeding and habitat protection.

Research and institutions

• Wildlife Institute of India – research, training
• Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur – dryland forestry research

Challenges

• Habitat fragmentation: agriculture, urbanization, mining, infrastructure
• Poaching and illegal wildlife trade
• Human–wildlife conflict: crop raiding, livestock predation
• Climate change: altered monsoons, temperature rise, habitat shifts
• Ecological shifts: Thar “greening” favouring generalists over specialists

See also

• Wildlife of India
• Ranthambore National Park
• Sariska Tiger Reserve
• Great Indian Bustard

External links

• Rajasthan Forest Department: Rajasthan Forests
• Wildlife Institute of India: WII