India is not a single ecosystem; it is a sprawling, spectacular mosaic of some of the most extreme and diverse habitats on Earth. From the frozen, oxygen-starved heights of the Himalayas to the dense, dripping rainforests of the Western Ghats, and from the hyper-arid Thar Desert to the labyrinthine mangroves of the Sundarbans, India is one of the world’s 17 “megadiverse” countries.
Covering just 2.4% of the world’s land area, India harbors an astonishing 8% of all recorded global species. It is the only country in the world where both the tiger and the lion coexist in the wild. It is the final stronghold for the Asian elephant, the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, and the critically endangered gharial.
Because wildlife in India does not respect political borders, tracking these magnificent animals requires understanding the regional landscapes. We have meticulously documented the wildlife, protected areas, flagship species, and conservation challenges for every single state and union territory in the country.
Choose a region below to begin your journey.
The Northern Himalayas & Plains
The north is defined by the towering Himalayas and the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains. This region is the realm of high-altitude ghosts like the snow leopard, and the dense Terai marshlands where tigers and rhinos roam.
- Chandigarh: Urban sanctuaries and avian wetlands.
- Delhi: The Asola Bhatti ridge and urban leopard corridors.
- Haryana: Sultanpur’s migratory birds and the Aravalli leopard trails.
- Himachal Pradesh: Great Himalayan National Park and the snow leopards of Spiti.
- Jammu & Kashmir: The Hangul deer of Dachigam and high-altitude wetlands.
- Ladakh: The ultimate high-altitude desert and snow leopard capital.
- Punjab: The endangered Indus River dolphins of the Beas River.
- Uttarakhand: Jim Corbett’s tigers and the Valley of Flowers.
- Uttar Pradesh: The Dudhwa rhinos and Chambal’s critically endangered gharials.
Central India: The Heart of the Tiger
Central India is the undisputed tiger capital of the world. Defined by the ancient Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges and vast tracts of dry deciduous teak forests, this region inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
- Chhattisgarh: The untamed wilderness of Indravati and wild water buffaloes.
- Madhya Pradesh: The ultimate tiger state—Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench.
Western India: Deserts, Lions, and Coasts
The west features a dramatic transition from the vast, golden dunes of the Thar desert down to the rich, tropical estuaries of the Konkan coast. It is the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion on Earth.
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu: Coastal biodiversity and the Fudam Bird Sanctuary.
- Goa: The Western Ghats rainforests, black panthers, and Bhagwan Mahavir WLS.
- Gujarat: The Asiatic Lions of Gir and the vast saline flats of the Rann of Kutch.
- Maharashtra: The tiger corridors of Tadoba and the coastal Sahyadris.
- Rajasthan: Ranthambore’s heritage tigers and the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
East India: Mangroves and Mineral Belts
The east is heavily influenced by the massive delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, transitioning into the mineral-rich, deeply forested Chota Nagpur plateau.
- Bihar: Valmiki Tiger Reserve and the Gangetic dolphins of Vikramshila.
- Jharkhand: The Betla National Park and massive elephant corridors.
- Odisha: The melanistic tigers of Similipal and the giant crocodiles of Bhitarkanika.
- West Bengal: The swimming tigers of the Sundarbans and the red pandas of Singalila.
Northeast India: The Indo-Burma Hotspot
Geographically isolated and incredibly lush, the Northeast sits firmly within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. It features some of the thickest rainforests and highest primate diversity in the country.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Namdapha’s dense jungles, red pandas, and the elusive Mishmi takin.
- Assam: The global stronghold of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga.
- Manipur: Keibul Lamjao, the world’s only floating national park, and the dancing Sangai deer.
- Meghalaya: Ancient sacred groves, the clouded leopard, and the western hoolock gibbon.
- Mizoram: India’s highest forest cover and the clouded leopards of Dampa.
- Nagaland: The massive Amur Falcon migration and community conservation in Khonoma.
- Sikkim: Khangchendzonga’s alpine biosphere and vibrant rhododendron sanctuaries.
- Tripura: The Clouded Leopard National Park and the spectacled Phayre’s leaf monkey.
South India & The Islands
The south is dominated by the Western Ghats—one of the top eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity in the world. The region is characterized by misty Shola grasslands, pristine rainforests, and vibrant coral atolls.
- Andhra Pradesh: The Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve and Coringa’s mangroves.
- Karnataka: The massive elephant herds of Bandipur and Nagarhole, and the black panthers of Kabini.
- Kerala: The flooded forests of Periyar and the endemic Nilgiri Tahr of Eravikulam.
- Tamil Nadu: The Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere and the tiger corridors of Mudumalai.
- Telangana: The vast Nallamala hills of Amrabad and urban blackbuck conservation.
- Puducherry: The vital avian wetlands of Oussudu Lake.
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Pristine coral reefs, dugongs, and the massive Robber Crab.
- Lakshadweep: India’s only coral atolls and the pelagic bird sanctuaries of Pitti Island.