What is the National Animal of India

National Animal of India- Royal Bengal Tiger

India is a country where Bravery and Power are venerated, and the National Animal of India is a living example of the valiance and audacity we Indians possess. The National Animal of India is none other than the lord of the Jungle, the magnificent Royal Bengal Tiger, which is found in various parts of India. As the national animal of India, Tiger symbolizes India’s wildlife wealth. The combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power has earned the tiger great respect and high esteem.

Royal Bengal Tigers also known as Indian Tiger and Bengal Tiger and constitute a large population of the tiger family in the world. It is the National animal of India, mostly in India, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Burma. The biological name of this Big Cat is Panthera Tigris, which comes under the Felidae family under the Mammalia category.

National Animal of India: Royal Bengal Tiger Classification

The Royal Bengal Tiger, scientifically known as Panthera tigris tigris, holds the esteemed status of being the National Animal of India. This magnificent creature, adorned with its distinctive orange coat and dark stripes, represents the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of the country.

Peculiar Characteristics of Bengal Tigers

Bengal Tigers, also known as Royal Bengal Tigers, possess a range of peculiar characteristics that make them truly remarkable and captivating creatures. As one of the most iconic big cats, they exhibit a striking combination of strength, agility, and beauty.

• No two Bengal tigers look alike! Every Bengal Tiger has a unique stripe pattern. We may have seen many tigers, but no two tigers have similar strip patterns.
• Their colour ranges from yellow to light orange, with stripes from dark brown to black. Some of the Bengal Tigers are white in colour, You can find a White Bengal Tiger in Bandhavgarh National Park.
• Being fierce in nature, Royal Bengal Tigers are not much friendly in nature and live a solitary life, except in winter when they can be seen in a group of 3 or 4.
• Royal Bengal Tigers have very sharp memories, they never forget their faces. Their memory is more sharper than humans and other animals. These tigers never roar, while fighting with other tigers they hiss and fluff.
• Bengal tigers are fast runners and good swimmers.
• Tigers attack their prey in stealth mode.

National Animal of India: Why Tiger?

This question may cross your mind and to your surprise Till 1972, actually, Lion was the National Animal of India !!  But in A meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife was held in 1972 and a decision was taken to declare Tiger as the national animal thus replacing Lion. Also, Project Tiger was started in April 1973 for saving the dwindling population of Tigers.

The reasons supporting this decision are as follows:

1. Tiger is found all over the country. It is found in 16 states as compared to Lion which is in just one state.
2. Tiger has a worldwide prominence.
3.  the tiger population was dwindling at a very fast pace due to poaching practices, and declaring it as the national animal helped in raising awareness as well as its conservation.
4. The tiger is the symbol of India’s wealth of wildlife
5. Around 70% of the world’s wild tigers live in India
6. The Bengal tiger can be found in many states of India while the Asiatic lion is found only in Gujarat.

Habitat of Bengal Tigers

Bengal Tigers, scientifically known as Panthera tigris tigris, are primarily found in the Indian subcontinent. They inhabit a diverse range of habitats within this region. The main habitats of Bengal Tigers include tropical rainforests, evergreen forests, grasslands, and mangrove swamps.

In India, the Sunderbans National Park, located in the Sundarbans Delta, is a renowned habitat for Bengal Tigers. This region consists of a unique mangrove ecosystem, where the tigers have adapted to living in dense mangrove forests and wetlands. The Sunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to a significant population of Bengal Tigers.

Apart from the Sundarbans, Bengal Tigers are also found in other national parks and reserves across India, such as Jim Corbett National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Ranthambore National Park, and Kanha National Park. These habitats encompass a mix of forests, grasslands, and water bodies, providing the tigers with suitable hunting grounds and shelter.

In addition to India, Bengal Tigers also inhabit parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. They can be found in various types of forested areas, including subtropical and evergreen forests, as well as grasslands adjacent to forested regions.

The habitat of Bengal Tigers requires an abundance of prey species, access to water sources, and sufficient vegetation cover for hunting and breeding. Conservation efforts are focused on preserving and maintaining these habitats, as they are crucial for the survival and well-being of these magnificent creatures.

Save Tiger Initiative 

In 1973, Project Tiger was launched in India with the aim to protect this Endangered specie. The project aims to provide the Royal Bengal tigers with their natural habitats and protect them from hunters and getting extinct.

The government also started warning the common people about the extinction via the advertisement “Only 1411 left” as Royal Bengal tigers are the most glorifying species of our country. Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, MS Dhoni joined the initiative and promoted it.

With the continuous efforts of the Government, now there are 50 Project Tiger Wildlife reserves in India, covering an area of more than 70,000 sq km.

Not only Government but every individual should accept it as his duty to save the wildlife treasure of India after all we the people of India are responsible for the integrity and well-being of our beautiful country.

Check: Defence Study Material