Keoladev National Park

	Birds perched on a tree in Keoladev National Park

Keoladeo National Park in the Bharatpur district of the state of Rajasthan encompassing an area of 28.73 sq km is the abode to over 375 species of birds and is a birder’s dream place to visit. The park is a natural depression and believed to be part of a riverbed, probably that of the Yamuna, which subsequently changed its course. Old records describe the depression as supporting thick forest (hence the name 'Ghana') and was subjected to seasonal flooding.

KNP is acknowledged as one of the most enchanting and outstanding wetland reserves in the world. Designated as a bird sanctuary in 1956, it was recognised as Ramsar site in 1981. In 1982 its status was changed to that of a national park. It was inscribed on the world heritage list in 1985. Earlier in the 19th century it was a duck shooting reserve of HH Bharatpur and has undergone tremendous transformation due to natural and anthropogenic factors.

The park has remained a spectacular avifauna refuge especially the water birds. Conservation and management issues are mainly related to past and present utilisation of the park's resources. Given the importance of the wetland as a waterfowl habitat, various management measures have been taken up to keep the wetland and other habitat suitable to different variety of migratory and resident birds along with other wildlife of the park.

This unique manmade ecosystem has three major seasons, wet monsoons, cold winters and hot summers. A spectacular harmony of herons, cormorants, storks, ibis, spoonbills and egrets fascinates the habitat in wet monsoons. Twenty species of ducks such as shovellar, pintail, Greylag goose, barheaded goose, coot, spotbill duck, common teal, comb duck, etc., can be seen during winters. Indian rock python can be seen running itself at midday. Migratory birds start back to their native breeding grounds in February-March. Resident woodland birds start vesting at the onset of spring. As the summer advances pools change to baked mud and the upland tracks into dry grasslands, with the trees providing shelter to the resident fauna.

Other than birds, 27 identified species of mammals, 45 species of fish, 10 species of turtle and 71 species of butterflies are seen in the park. The common monitor lizard, 13 snake species, seven species of amphibians and Indian porcupine are also common. Two species of lesser cats, the jungle cat and the fishing cat, and two species of civets are seen. The smooth Indian otter (now rare) can be seen attacking birds such as coots. Jackals, hyena, many species of rats, mice, gerbils and bats are also found in the park. Macro invertebrates such as worms, insects and molluscs are in abundance in the ecosystem.

Fortunately current year is a boon to KNP considering the following major reasons:

• Optimum water from local as well as defined conventional catchments well in time
• Eradication of obnoxious Prosopis juliflora weed from all the area of the park
• Effective timely habitat improvements efforts by the management
• A picturesque heronry formation in tourism zone of the park by local migrants
• A large congregation of migratory duck species in important wetland areas
• Numerous basking pythons at least 15 places

Time to Visit the Park

July to September: Nesting and breeding season of waterfowl
October to February: Abundant migratory birds
March to June: Nesting and breeding of resident birds

Location

2 km south-east of Bharatpur town (nearest railway station)
180 km from Delhi
50 km from Agra (nearest airport)