Indian has 80 national parks, including 23 tiger reserves, you will find 350 different mammals, 1,220 bird and 1,600 reptile species. Unique to the subcontinent are the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Indian Bison, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Great Indian Bustard and more. 60% of the world’s tiger population, 50% of Asian Elephants, 80% of the Asia one horn Rhino roam here.
The Indian Subcontinent is one of the world’s most mega diverse landscapes. Formed about 50-55 million years ago, when chunk of the Gondwana supercontinent crashed into Asia, causing the formation of the Himalayas. Some animals and plants found in the Indian subcontinent, such as the Indian gharial (fish eating crocodile), are descendants of those that travelled with it and evolved in isolation during their epic journey. Once contact with Asia was made, Eurasian species colonised the newly arrived landmass and vice versa. Monkeys, wild boar, hares and elephants reached India, and, in return, the Indian subcontinent gave the world many of its bovine (cattle and antelope) species, and jungle fowl (Chicken) ancestors.
