Total
Coverage Area:
52,082 hectares.
Established in: 1936 as a National Park
Originally Names As: Hailey National Park
Renamed As: Corbett National Park In 1957
Declared As: A Tiger Reserve In 1973
Description:
The
Corbett National Park, where Project Tiger
was launched in 1973, is regarded as India's finest
national park and its major attractions are the Tiger,
Indian Elephant and Leopard.Corbett national park is drained by
the Ramganga river, the dam at Kalagarh forming a huge lake to
the west of the national park. The park is essentially a large
low valley.
A
range of hills runs through the middle of the national park,
roughly east to west. The forests are moist deciduous, with Sal
as the dominant tree.Chir Pine trees are to be found on the
higher ridges of the hills. On the low-lying areas riverine
forests, with Shisham and Khair trees, are intermixed with
grasslands known locally as 'Chaurs'.
Project Tiger(Corbett National Park):
The overage area of the park was 520-sq-kms in 1986, and a
proposed extension of 588-sq-kms is under consideration.
Project Tiger, which was set up with the help of the
World Wildlife Fund, was launched at Dhikala, in the
Corbett National Park on April 1, 1973. This project
was aimed at saving the Indian tiger from extinction. Over 50
mammals, 580 birds and 25 reptile species have been listed in
the Corbett National Park.The insect life is
also astounding, noticeably specially after the monsoons. But
undoubtedly, the jewel of the Corbett is the Indian tiger. It
was estimated that in 1984, the tiger population was 90 in this
national park.
Corbett
was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at
present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers. White Tigers,
in human and cattle population in the beginning of the 20th
century led to the disturbance of this balance, and the first
man-eaters started appearing. Soon the numbers of these
man-eaters increased and Kumaon became famous.
The
hunter Jim Corbett became famous with his
leopard shooting exploits in this region. In his book "Temple
Tiger", he describes how he killed the Champawat Tiger and the
Panar Leopard, which had hunted 836 human beings in the first
decade of this century. However from 1930s onwards, the number
of tigers fell sharply with the increase in the number of
hunters who belonged to the Indian royals as well British
sportsmen.
The situation deteriorated rapidly and in 1971, the Indian
government banned the killing of tigers. Project Tiger
was started and the Jim Corbett National Park was formed - the
name honoring the famous hunter of the past.
The Wild Attractions(Corbett National
Park):
The Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Dhole, Jackal, Yellow
Throated Martem, Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Grey Mongoose,
Common Otter, Porcupine, Clack-taped Hare are the other
attractions of this area. It is possible to see elephants all
over the park too. There are four species of deer residing over
here. These are the Chital, the well-known Spotted Deer, Para,
Kakka, and the Barking Deer. The Goat Antelopes are represented
by the Ghoral.
There is a lot for the bird watchers in this park. It has over
580 species of birds. Most of the water birds are migrant, and
arrive in winters. Some of these are the Greylag, Bar-headed
Goose, Duck, Grepe, Snipe, Sandpiper, Gull and wagtail. The
residents include Darters, Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, the
black-necked Stork and the spur winged Lapwings
Reptiles, which are residents of this area, are the Gharial, the
rare Fish eating, long - nosed Crocodile, and a few species of
Turtles and Tortoises. The Indian Python, Viper, Cobra, Krait
and King Cobra also inhabit the Corbett National Park.
Climate(Corbett National Park):
As with the rest of the country, there are three well-defined
seasons at the Corbett National Park. winter
from November to February, summer from March to June and the
rainy season the rest of the year.
Tarvel info(Corbett National Park)
By Air: Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of
50 km is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of 300 km is
the nearest international airport.
By Rail:
Ramnagar is on the broad gauge track from where the road
transport options have to be availed to reach the park.
By Road:
Dhikala is 300 km from Delhi, 145 km from Lucknow and 51 km from
Ramnagar. The route from Delhi spans Hapur-Murababad-Ramnagar.
The turn off is some 7 km beyond Muradabad to the left, marked
by a small board. The route from Lucknow spans Bareilly. Kichha.
Rudrapur. Doraha. Kashipur |