Rajasthan harbours (inhabits) about 60 species of wild animals. Some of them are as follows—
1. Tiger (Panthera tigris) :
Bengal Royal tiger inhabits project tigers and in some wildlife sanctuaries. In 1972-73, Panthera tigris declared as National animal. Tiger is the largest cat species having dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur. It is an endagered species. It has powerful forelimbs, large head and long tail. Length of male is 250 to 390 cm and of female is 200 to 275 cm. The height of tiger is 2.3 to 4 feet. Adult tiger leads solitary life and may have a territory of 20 km². Tiger is able to see in night also and has strong power of olfaction. Tigers are mainly nocturnal predator and prefer to rest during day. The female tiger gives birth to 2 to 3 cubs at a time and the gestation period is of 95 to 105 days.
It is carnivorous and prefer to feeds on medium to large-sized animals such as sambar deer, chital, barasingha, wild boar etc.
2. Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) :
It inhabits almost whole Rajasthan and also called as Jarakh or Lakadbagga. It is a near threatened species. It is primarily scavenger and rarely attack on humans, they are monogamous and both male and female assist one another in raising their cubs. It is nocturnal and return to its lair before Sunrise. Gestation period is of 90 days.
It’s length is 100 cm and length of the tail is 45 cm. Fore limbs are stout and longer and hind limbs are smaller and weak. The colour is dirty brownish grey have transverse and verticle stripes. It is a timid animal and hunts during night.
3. Chinkara (Gazella gazella) :
It is also called as ravine deer or Indian gazelle and it is Rajasthan state animal. It stands at 65 cm tall and weights about 23 kg. It has a reddish-buff summer coat and in winter white belly having throat fur. Both male and female have horns having length 25 to 30 cm. They lives in groups of 4 to 6 in arid plans and hills, deserts, dry scrub and light forests. They are fast runner.
It mates once in a year and male compete for access to females. It feeds on grass, wild plants, oak etc.
4. Blue cow or “Rose or Nilgai (Boselephus tragocamelus) :
It is the largest Asiatic antelope. It is a least concern species. It stands 1 to 1.5 meter at shoulder. Only male possess horns having length 15 to 25 cm.
It is herbivorous and diurnal. It can be tamed, appears to be timid but cautious. If alarmed, it fleeps up to 300 to 700 mts.
The fore legs are generally longer than hind legs. Females are light brown in colour & without horn. They are herbivores and prefer to feed grasses, herbs, woody plants. They move in herd and harm the crops i.e. trample crop fields. ‘
5. Ajgar (Python) :
It is the largest living snake and Anaconda is the largest python. The python is non-poisonous. It remain motionless in a camouflaged position and then strike suddenly at passing prey. The prey is killed by construction after an animal has been grasped to restrain it, the python quickly wraps a number of coils around it.
Their length ranges from 2 to 7 meters and weighing up to 200 kg. They are able to see in the night. Python occurs in a wide range of habitats including grasslands, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands etc.
6. Birds :
Rajasthan harbors about 80 species of birds which include Godawan, Pintail, Saras, Peacock, Duck etc.
Godawan or Great Indian Bustard (Choriotiss nigriceps) is declared as Rajasthan state bird (1981). It is a critically endangered species and the number of godawas was 1500 in 1981, 250 in 2011. 40 in 2014 and only 13 in June, 2015. It is a large bird with long bare legs. It’s height is about one metre. The body is brownish with black patch spotted. It is omnivorous and it feeds on grass seeds, insects, berries, rodents, reptiles etc. Adult weight is 6 to 18 kg.
For the conservation of Godawan, Project Godawan was launched on July 9, 2013 at Sudasari (Jaisalmer) of Desert National Park.
