Indian Animal Information

India has a wide variety of animals. It is home for about hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. The geographic location of the country - which makes for a varied climate, topped with natural landscape - has made it an ideal place for the existence of a variety of species. The dense forests, of the Western Ghats and the rivers, encourage further growth of animal life in India. Indian animal information will help us know about the variety of animals found in India and their characteristic features.

Here's a list of a few animals found in India:

• Indian Rhinoceros: Rhinos are herbivores mammals. Their diet consists of leaves of trees and bushes. Indian rhinoceros has only one horn. They weigh up to 8,000 pounds. They are solitary beings, who prefer to mark their own territories and stay alone. They are also hunted extensively for their horns, because of which they have entered the endangered species list. Their population is about 3,000 in the wild. Many wildlife sanctuaries in India are making several attempts to protect them. They live up to 35 years.

• The Snow Leopard: Snow leopards are found in cliffs and mountainous regions. It is white or smoky grey in color with yellow and black patterns on the fur. It has large paws and long hind limbs, which makes them agile to move in the snow and mountains, without much effort. It also has a well-developed chest suitable for the mountainous atmosphere. It is 60 cm tall at the shoulders and weighs up to 121 pounds. It can kill prey that is four times its own weight. These leopards are endangered, as they are poached for their fur. Apart from this, habitat loss and scarcity of their prey base are other reasons for their decreasing numbers.

• Bengal Tiger: A tiger is the largest member of the big-cat family. The scientific name of a tiger is, 'Panthera Tigris'. The royal Bengal tiger is the most graceful of all tigers found in India. They are found in Sundarban in Bengal. There were around forty thousand tigers in India, in the beginning of the 20th century. The numbers have drastically decreased, making tiger an endangered species. The reason for their endangerment is loss of habitat, scarcity of prey and poaching for its beautiful skin. The alarming rate of decrease in its species has led to the foundation of "Project Tiger" - an initiative by the government of India, established in April 1973, when the tiger population was 20,000. Tigers can survive in varied habitat, which includes, open jungles, humid evergreen forests and, even, swamps. They mainly eat deer, antelopes, gaurs and wild pigs. They also sometimes capture birds, lizards, turtles, frogs, fishes and crabs. They are good swimmers, but seldom climb trees. They hunt on their own and lead a solitary life in their own territory.

Apart from these animals, the Indian elephant, white tiger, snow leopard, black buck, lion, cobra, peacock, are some of the animals that adorn the wild life species found in India.