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 Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Continuous human habitation since the Indus Valley Civilisation at sites like Kalibangan and Balathal has influenced local ecosystems over millennia.[1]
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.[2]
- Aravalli Range: SW–NE fold mountains rising to ~1 700 m at Mount Abu.[3]
- Eastern plains and wetlands: alluvial areas in Bharatpur and Dausa districts.
- Mount Abu: the state’s only hill station with subtropical evergreen forests.[4]
Ecosystems and vegetation types
Thar Desert
- Xerophytic shrubs and trees: Prosopis cineraria, Tecomella undulata, Acacia spp.[5]
- Grasses: Lasiurus sindicus (sewan grass)
- “Greening” trends since late 20th century due to monsoon variability and the Indira Gandhi Canal.[6]
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.[7]
- 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.[8]
- Sambhar Lake: India’s largest salt lake, important for flamingos and halophytes (Salvadora spp.).[9]
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)[10]
- 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
Fauna
Mammals
Common mammals
| Common name | Scientific name | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|
| Rhesus macaque | Macaca mulatta | Least Concern |
| Hanuman langur | Semnopithecus entellus | Least Concern |
| Indian leopard | Panthera pardus fusca | Vulnerable |
| Jungle cat | Felis chaus | Least Concern |
| Indian desert cat | Felis lybica ornata | Least Concern |
| Asian palm civet | Paradoxurus hermaphroditus | Least Concern |
| Small Indian mongoose | Herpestes javanicus | Least Concern |
| Indian brown mongoose | Herpestes brachyurus | Least Concern |
| Ruddy mongoose | Herpestes smithii | Least Concern |
| Indian grey mongoose | Herpestes edwardsi | Least Concern |
| Striped hyena | Hyaena hyaena | Near Threatened |
| Indian jackal | Canis aureus indicus | Least Concern |
| Sloth bear | Melursus ursinus | Vulnerable |
| Grey musk shrew | Suncus murinus | Least Concern |
| Indian flying fox | Pteropus giganteus | Least Concern |
| Short-nosed fruit bat | Cynopterus sphinx | Least Concern |
| Five-striped palm squirrel | Funambulus pennantii | Least Concern |
| Three-striped palm squirrel | Funambulus palmarum | Least Concern |
| Indian gerbil | Tatera indica | Least Concern |
| Indian desert gerbil | Meriones hurrianae | Least Concern |
| House rat | Rattus rattus | Least Concern |
| Asiatic long-tailed climbing mouse | Vandeleuria oleracea | Least Concern |
| Cutch rat | Cremnomys cutchicus | Least Concern |
| Soft-furred metad | Millardia meltada | Least Concern |
| House mouse | Mus musculus | Least Concern |
| Little Indian field mouse | Mus booduga | Least Concern |
| Phillips’s mouse | Mus phillipsi | Least Concern |
| Indian bush rat | Golunda ellioti | Least Concern |
| Lesser bandicoot rat | Bandicota bengalensis | Least Concern |
| Indian porcupine | Hystrix indica | Least Concern |
| Indian hedgehog | Paraechinus micropus | Least Concern |
| Indian long-eared hedgehog | Hemiechinus collaris | Least Concern |
| Chinkara (state animal) | Gazella bennettii | Least Concern |
| Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra | Least Concern |
| Nilgai | Boselaphus tragocamelus | Least Concern |
| Sambar | Cervus unicolor | Vulnerable |
| Chital | Axis axis | Least Concern |
| Wild boar | Sus scrofa | Least Concern |
Rare mammals
| Common name | Scientific name | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal tiger | Panthera tigris tigris | Endangered |
| Caracal | Caracal caracal | Least Concern |
| Indian wolf | Canis lupus pallipes | Endangered |
| White-footed fox | Vulpes vulpes pusilla | Least Concern |
| Indian fox | Vulpes bengalensis | Least Concern |
| Smooth-coated otter | Lutrogale perspicillata | Vulnerable |
| Four-horned antelope | Tetracerus quadricornis | Vulnerable |
| Indian pangolin | Manis crassicaudata | Vulnerable |
Recently reported mammals
| Common name | Scientific name | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|
| Rusty-spotted cat | Prionailurus rubiginosus | Near Threatened |
| Fishing cat | Prionailurus viverrinus | Vulnerable |
| Large brown flying squirrel | Petaurista petaurista | Least Concern |
| Indian spotted chevrotain | Moschiola indica | Least Concern |
| Gangetic dolphin | Platanista gangetica | Endangered |
| Painted bat | Kerivoula picta | Least Concern |
Birds
Over 500 species have been recorded in Rajasthan.
| Common name | Scientific name | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|
| Great Indian Bustard (state bird) | Ardeotis nigriceps | Critically Endangered |
| Demoiselle Crane | Anthropoides virgo | Least Concern |
| Sarus Crane | Antigone antigone | Vulnerable |
| Red-naped Ibis | Pseudibis papillosa | Least Concern |
| Indian Roller | Coracias benghalensis | Least Concern |
| Laggar Falcon | Falco jugger | Near Threatened |
| Red-wattled Lapwing | Vanellus indicus | Least Concern |
| Green Avadavat | Amandava formosa | Vulnerable |
| Grey Junglefowl | Gallus sonneratii | Least Concern |
| Painted Spurfowl | Galloperdix lunulata | Least Concern |
| Aravalli Red Spurfowl | Galloperdix sp. | Data Deficient |
| White-naped Tit | Parus nuchalis | Vulnerable |
| Indian eagle-owl | Bubo bengalensis | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | Least Concern |
| Black-necked Stork | Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus | Near Threatened |
| Lesser Flamingo | Phoeniconaias minor | Near Threatened |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Least Concern |
| Bar-headed Goose | Anser indicus | Least Concern |
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | Least Concern |
| Common Teal | Anas crecca | Least Concern |
Reptiles and amphibians
| Group | Representative species | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal monitor | Varanus bengalensis | Near Threatened |
| Spiny-tailed lizard | Saara hardwickii | Least Concern |
| Saw-scaled viper | Echis carinatus | Least Concern |
| Russell's viper | Daboia russelii | Least Concern |
| Indian cobra | Naja naja | Least Concern |
| Common krait | Bungarus caeruleus | Least Concern |
| Rat snake | Ptyas mucosa | Least Concern |
| Red sand boa | Eryx johnii | Near Threatened |
| Gharial | Gavialis gangeticus | Critically Endangered |
| Slender racer snake | Psammophis condanarus | Least Concern |
| Dumeril's black-headed snake | Sibynophis subpunctatus | Least Concern |
| Green keelback snake | Rhabdophis plumbicolor | Least Concern |
| Rajasthan toad-headed lizard | Bufoniceps laungwalaensis | Least Concern |
| Common toad | Duttaphrynus melanostictus | Least Concern |
| Indian bullfrog | Hoplobatrachus tigerinus | Least Concern |
| Common tree frog | Polypedates maculatus | Least Concern |
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[11]
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.[12]
- Project Great Indian Bustard: launched 5 June 2013 for captive breeding and habitat protection.[13]
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
References
- ^ Udayavani. "10 tiger cubs born in Rajasthan's wildlife reserves". Udayavani (in Kannada). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ Shagun (2025-04-08). "Thar desert is greening, thanks to higher rainfall, excessive groundwater pumping". Down To Earth. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Rajasthan's rare-earth elements (REE) potential set to be unlocked by the end of this fiscal". The Times of India. 2024-10-03. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ Staff, O. T. (2024-12-18). "Rajasthan's Only Hill Station Receives Snowfall: Top 7 Things To Do In Mount Abu". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "The Plants of the Thar Desert". Sahapedia. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Indira Gandhi Canal closure to impact water supply in 12 dists". The Times of India. 2025-03-24. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary - keybiodiversityareas.org". www.keybiodiversityareas.org. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2025-03-10). "Migratory Birds Bidding Farewell To Winter Home In Rajasthan's Keoladeo National Park". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ Mohanty, Swapna Sarita (2025-05-15). "How community ponds are reviving life and landscapes around Rajasthan's Sambhar Lake". India Water Portal. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Khejri: A Wonder Tree of the Thar". Sahapedia. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "National Parks and Sanctuaries in Rajasthan". forest.rajasthan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2025-03-23. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2024-07-29). "International Tiger Day | Project Tiger To Displace 5.50 Lakh Tribals With 967% Increase Of Displacement Per Tiger Reserve Post-2021 Period". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Project GIB sees success as four captive-bred Great Indian Bustard chicks hatch in Jaisalmer". Mid-day. 2025-05-02. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
External links
- Rajasthan Forest Department: Rajasthan Forests
- Wildlife Institute of India: WII