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 |
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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.
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