5 offbeat wildlife experiences in India beyond the tiger craze

Indian wildlife is quite vast, it is much more than just tigers and elephants. One must take the offbeat path and get to know more about the animals. We generally talk about tigers, elephants and rhinos but today we’ll explore the other species of wildlife that can be spotted in extraordinary settings and very few people must have seen these species in real life.

Let’s explore these immersive wildlife experiences and what makes them special.

Gir National Park provides home to the Asiatic lion and it is not easily spotted during safaris. This is the only national park with a natural habitat in the world except Africa where Asiatic lions roam around freely. This national park was established in 1965 and there are around 600 endangered Asiatic lions here and also 40 species of mammals and 425 bird species like the uncommon Asiatic wild ass, hyenas, Gir foxes, pygmy woodpecker, brown fish owl and blackbuck. One can go on a guided safari in early morning or late afternoon and spot the Asiatic lions which will definitely give you chills once you make eye contact with them. The best time to visit here is from December to April.

Chilika Lake is located on the east coast of India. It is Asia’s largest brackish lagoon and is the only known lagoon in India where one can spot the Irrawaddy dolphins. This place comes in the list of the world’s largest dolphin habitats where there are about 150 to 155 dolphins. The Satapada Dolphin Sanctuary near Puri offers you the opportunity to go on a cruise from which visitors can spot the dolphins when they surface briefly and also spot the migratory waterfowl. This marine sight is much more than just a tourist site, it also gives calm and serene vibes. The ideal time to visit this place is from October to February to sight some dolphin activity.

The Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1999 and is the only cold desert sanctuary in India. This sanctuary provides home to the snow leopards, Himalayan wolf, blue sheep, ibex and more such species. This is one of the few places where about 30 snow leopards have been recorded. One can go on treks to the Kibber village to sight snow leopards and Himalayan wolves in the alpine terrain and if you’re lucky you might spot the snow leopard lounging on a ridge or catching its prey. The best time to spot them is from May to October here but the weather gets quite chilly here.

This sanctuary is located in the Eastern Himalayas and is a paradise for bird watchers. Eaglenest is a birding hotspot where there are almost 450 bird species which includes tragopans, hornbills and the endemic Bugun liocichla. The Bugun liocichla is a bird species that was discovered in 1995 and described in 2006. This species is only found in this sanctuary and is critically endangered with very few numbers of it left. In the forest trails, one might be able to spot the tragopans, monals, hornbills and Himalayan woodpeckers. The best time to visit this place is from November to April when the skies are clearer, making it easier to spot birds.

Rangayyanadurga Sanctuary in Karnataka is a dedicated place for the four horned antelope and was established in 2011 since the species was vulnerable to threat. This sanctuary is located in the Davanagere district where one can also spot the sloth bears, pangolins, jungle cats, hyenas and the vulnerable white naped tit, a vulnerable bird species as well. The four horned antelope is a tiny mammal species that is quite discreet and can easily camouflage itself in the forest. The ideal time to visit this sanctuary is from November to May as the trails become more accessible and the wildlife becomes active here.