The wildlife of Ranthambore National Park is not new to wildlife lovers in India. One of the iconic animal reserves is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. It is one of the intriguing tourist destinations that attracts visitors for its bestowed natural beauty, lush greens, hills, & diverse range of flora and fauna. With the mere mention of Ranthambore National Park, the first thing that people relate to it is being the home to royal Bengal tigers, & many other endangered species.
Two rivers that bound this widely famous national park are the Banas River at the north & the Chambal River at the south. With around ten safari zones in Ranthambore, tourists can spot tigers with their cubs, marking individual territorial dominance. Even though these striped big cats are popular attractions here, there are other animals to watch out for.
Ranthambore National Park is an example of wildlife conservation, especially in terms of the tiger population that remained under threat from poachers who hunted these majestic beasts for their skin in large numbers. Currently, there are more than 80 tigers, of which 15 are females, & 11 are male, including the cubs. You can see them roaming & playing around with their mothers in all ten safari zones. Over the last eight years, the population of these ferocious beasts has risen by 45%, which is impressive. Let us bring you a list of animals you can spot in Ranthambore National Park.
Safari zones that lets you explore wildlife of Ranthambore National Park
Exploring wildlife is one of the top activities to do in Ranthambore. This is all possible with ten safari zones where travellers can see tigers with numbers attached to their names. Before we list the animals you can see in this wildlife national park, let us brief you about these safaris to give you an idea of the timings & months to visit.
From 1st Oct to 31st Oct
- Morning: 6:30 AM – 10.00 AM
- Evening: 2:30 PM – 6.00 PM
From 1st Nov to 31st Jan
- Morning: 7:00 AM – 10.30 AM
- Evening: 2:00 PM – 5.30 PM
1st Feb to 31st march
- Morning: 6:30 AM – 10.00 AM
- Evening: 2:30 PM – 6.00 PM
1st April to 15th May
- Morning: 6:00 AM – 9.30 AM
- Evening: 3:00 PM – 6.30 PM
16th May to 30th June
- Morning: 6:00 AM – 9.30 AM
- Evening: 3:30 PM – 7.00 PM
With all the timings listed above to visit the safari zones in Ranthambore National Park, it is also essential to know that they are open from 1st October to 30th June all year. If you visit the national park during the monsoon season from July to September, you won’t get access to all the safari zones, as only Zone 6 to Zone 10 are open for jungle safari.
Top Wildlife In Ranthambore National Park
Besides many places to visit in Ranthambore National Park, tourists are keen to spot animals in their natural surroundings. Being a wildlife enthusiast, it’s impossible to hold your urge to explore wildlife closely. So, putting an end to your curiosity, we bring you a compiled list of animals possibly seen in Ranthambore National Park. The list of course, starts with:
Royal Bengal tigers
Royal Bengal tigers are the main attraction among all other animal species. These ferocious striped wild big cats are now 88 in number as of November 2023 data. It is good to see their population increasing from the previous figure, which was 69 in 2022. Tigers prefer feasting on cattle, zebras, goats, sambars, nilgais, chitals, wild boar, fish, etc.
Wild Boar
Unlike common pigs, wild boars have tusks (only males) that they use as a defensive weapon against predators. These animals are omnivorous as they feast on plants, roots, insects, & snakes. They eat early in the daytime, & late at night.
Nilgai
These large antelopes are attractive with their blue tint colour that shadows their grey coat in the sunlight. Looking at their body structure, they also resemble horses in terms of their high withers & low rump. Their primary source of diet is a variety of grasses they feed on.
Leopards
Leopards are carnivore species with black-spots on their furs. They are opportunistic predators, ambushing their prey with their fatal bite force. After killing, they feast on their flesh on the tree or some secluded spot. These spotted big cats prefer hunting during the daytime. Their primary diet includes antelopes, cattle, monkeys, & other herbivore animals.
Sloth bears
Unlike other bears, Sloth bears have short hind legs with unkempt hair. They usually eat during the night, & rest during the daytime. Their primary diet includes fruits, insects, & honey. Sloth bears also come under the endangered species list, as they have been hunted for their bile, which has medicinal properties.
Crocodiles
Crocodiles are fearsome reptiles with hard skin from the upper body, & softer from the stomach portion. They have short limbs & crawl upon land for sunbathing. But in water, they charge at full speed in devouring their prey with their sharp-edged knife-like teeth. They are found in rivers, lakes, & other large water bodies.
Sambar
Sambar are the horned antelopes with brown, yellow, or greyish colour tones. Their primary food sources are grasses, leaves, & fruits. Sambars are efficient swimmers submerging their bodies in water, keeping their heads over the surface. In Ranthambore, they are one of the preferred meals of Bengal tigers.
Chital
Chitals are white spotted deer with horns to defend themselves from opponents. They can be seen moving in ten to thirty groups, feeding on vegetation, grasses, leaves, & young shoots. They are also the prominent diet of big cats.
Striped hyenas
Striped hyenas are also a part of the wildlife of Ranthambore National Park. These canine species prefer moving in groups & are able hunters in knocking down antelopes & wildebeests. They are known for shoving off leopards, & snatching their prey. Birds, lizards, snakes, & insects are also their preferred diet.