The sheer size of the Indian subcontinent and the geographical diversity implies that a rich mosaic of flora and fauna exists in the country. The type of wildlife changes continuously as we move from south to north in the country.

The vegetation varies throughout the region. The  rain forests lie on the southwestern coast, in Kerala. There are numerous lagoons, and cooconut treesin the area. The Nilgiris and other hilly areas of South India provide lush tropical vegetation. The Andaman Islands and Arunachal Pradesh are other regions with well preserved rain forests, as well as the forests in central and coastal Karnataka. The various trees found are, sandal, teak and sisoo and wild Indian date palm.

The Himalayan foothills present a mouth watering course to botanists around the world. The slopes of the mountains are carpeted with lush Pine forests. Trees like spruce, fir, beech, ash and maple thrive in this region.

India is most well known for its tigers. But, more than 500 mammals call the country their home. The Asiatic loin, and the Indian rhino, alnog with antelopes such as the chinkara, (Indian Gazelle), barasinghas (swamp deer), chitals (spotted deer), muntjacs (barking deer) and sambars can effortlessly be seen in various wildlife sanctuaries across the World.

Apart from these well known species, there are other animals that can be spotted in the region.  Buffaloes, massive Indian bisons (gaurs), striped hyenas, wild pigs, jackals, Indian foxes and wild dogs are a common sight in most Indian forests. Other smaller mammals that are found include the giant squirrel and the mongoose. The monkey and its other varieties is also very popular in India. Major species include the langur,and baboon. The monkeys are a common sight in and around the many temple across the country.  There are other big cats apart from the tiger and lion too. The forests in India are home to panthers, leopards, and short-tailed jungle cats.

The number of species of birds in the country adds up to around 2000.Wildlife sanctuaries are terrific breeding grounds for birds, as they provide the necessary sheltered vegetation to make nests. Also, the wildlife reserves in India is a perfect haven for migratory birds, in search of hibernating spots, or just stops along a long journey. The flamingo is probably the most famous of the migratory birds that visit India. There are also over 500 species of reptiles and amphibians. Snakes such as the king cobra and python, giant tortoises and crocodiles, and the monitor lizards of the Andaman and Nicobar islands are only some , to name a few.

India is home to a huge variety of stunning butterflies as well, along with more than 30,000 different inscet species. Common insects like the Read the rest of this entry »