Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary - About Flora And Fauna At Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

Mesmerising Greenery

Teak wood, constituting 60% of the total vegetation, stands as the predominant tree species within Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Approximately 15% of the park area is adorned with Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus), renowned as one of India's most valuable sandalwood varieties.

The sanctuary also hosts a diverse range of flora and grasses within the Tipeshwar range. Species such as Achar, Mahua, Lendia, Bhirra Tiwas, alongside various others, contribute to the botanical richness of Tipeshwar. Noteworthy among the flora are Kunda, Kadmod, Guhar, Wide, and Gokru.

The sanctuary also boasts approximately 250 species of Bamboo, serving as a reservoir for useful, medicinal, aromatic, and aesthetic plants. These Bamboo groves thrive alongside Teak-dominated landscapes, enriching the sanctuary's ecological diversity.

Thriving Animal Kingdom

During your visit to Tipeshwar, get ready to discover an array of wildlife species, including Hyena, Chital, Black deer, Sambar, Jackal, Wild boar, Northern plains langur, Blue bull, Wild cat, Sloth bear, Rhesus macaque, Leopard, Tigers, and more. Interestingly, Gaurs are notably absent from this region. Tipeshwar is also home to 26 reptile species, adding to the rich biodiversity of the sanctuary.

Mammals add another layer of beauty to Tipeshwar and during your visit here, you are likely to spot natural wonders such as the False Vampire Bat (Megaderma species), Indian Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), Rusty Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), Indian Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).

Majestic Tigers

Most visitors to Tipeshwar are keen on seeing the glorious tigers residing in the national park and many of them have their wishes fulfilled. In 2010, only three tigers were officially recorded within the forests of Tipeshwar.

Through dedicated conservation efforts, the tiger population has experienced resurgence. Presently, Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary proudly hosts 20 tigers, comprising 7 adults, 10 sub-adults, and 3 cubs, showcasing the success of ongoing conservation initiatives and helping fulfil visitors’ dream of seeing tigers in their natural habitat.

Feathered wonders

If you are an avian enthusiast, Tipeshwar is a treasure trove for you, with an impressive presence of 256 distinct bird species within the sanctuary. Among these, 171 species were identified as local residents, 75 as winter migrants, 7 as local migrants, 2 as passage migrants, and 1 as a monsoon visitor.

Further classification reveals that 118 species are categorised as very common, 80 as common, 50 as uncommon, 7 as rare, and 1 as very rare. Abundance of birds peaks during the monsoon and winter months, and a noticeable decline is observed during the summer and pre-monsoon periods.

Popular birds you can watch here include Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus), Rain Quail (Coturnix coromandelica), Small Buttonquail (Turnix sylvatica), Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus), White-naped Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus), Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica), Yellow-legged Buttonquail (Turnix tanki), Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense), and Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica).

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a diverse array of butterfly species, with a total of 97 species belonging to five families. Among these, approximately 8.24% of species were classified as rare, indicating their limited presence within the sanctuary.

Notable among these rare species are the Large Salmon (Colotis fausta), Common Baron (Euthalia aconthea), Black Rajah (Charaxes solon), Towny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus), and Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus) butterflies.

These rare species contribute to the overall biodiversity of the sanctuary, alongside more common species such as the Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus) and Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae), enriching the ecosystem and highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect their habitats.