Jaldapara

Jaldapara is a paradise for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal florican is sighted. The other birds to be found here are the crested eagle, Pallass fish cagle. shikra. Finns weaver. jungle fowl, peafowl (peacock). partridge, and lesser pied hormbill. pythons, monitor lizards, kraits, cobras, geckos, and about eight species of fresh water turtles can also be found here. Many of the animals in the park are endangered, like the Indian one-horned rhino and elephants. Jaldpara National park is situated at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in alipurduar district of Northern West Bengal and on the banks of the Torsa River. Today, it has the largest population of the Indian one hundred rhinos in the state; and animal threatened with extinction, and is a habitat management area Category – 4. Jaldapara covers an area of 216 sq. km. and can be described as a mosaic of woods, grasslands, perennial streams, sandy riverbanks, and extensive belts of tall grass. The area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1941 for the protection of the Indian One-Horned Rhino, and in 2012, it was declared as a National Park. It houses a diversity of flora and fauna including mixed deciduous forests, grasslands and riverbanks which houses herds of Bison, Hispid hare, Hog deer, Sambar, and Asian elephants amongst other animals. The skies are a birdwatchers delight with presence of variety of eagles, Bengal florican, Indian Hornbill, jungle fowl, pea fowl, partridges and more.