Wildlife of Bihar

The world’s first tiger census had been carried out at Palamau in 1932. Today, Bihar boasts of 2 national parks and 21 sanctuaries. These include the country’s only hideout for wolves, a sanctuary for dolphins, a crocodile centre, a welcome jheel, or lake, that is home to an infinite variety of birds migrating from Central Asia.


¤ History of Wildlife

The inception of the history of wildlife in Bihar coincides with the legislation of the Private Forests Act that restricted the zamindar’s ownership of forests (a zamindar is a member of the landed gentry). Thus, the government acquired 26,000sq km of jungle that was in danger of rapidly losing its fauna. Until then, Rajas (rulers) and zamindars indulged in lavish hunting orgies simply to outdo each other. The Maharaja of Surguja (around Palamau) alone was responsible for hunting down 1,150 tigers.


¤ Palamau Tiger Reserve

The Reserve is spread over an area of 1026sq km in the Chotanagpur Plateau. The dense and dry deciduous forest of Palamau is replete with the finest bamboo groves, sal, mahua, bel and khair trees. The sixteenth century fort alongside the Auranga River adds a touch of history to this forest. The other rivers that drain Palamau are the Koel and Burha that eventually empty themselves into the famous Sone River.

Palamau shot to fame way back in 1932 for the tiger census – the first of its kind in the world – that was carried out here. In 1974, it became one of the country’s earliest tiger reserves. The core area of the sanctuary has been declared as the Betla National Park (232 sq km), famous for its wild elephants, tigers, gaurs (Indian wild ox), chitals (spotted deer), sambars (Asiatic deer), panthers, wild dogs and boars. 


¤ Betla Wildlife Reserves

Betla is easily accessible by road. It is 25km from Daltonganj and 175km from Ranchi, the nearest airport. The best time to visit Betla is in October-November and February-March. For accommodation, one can opt for B.S.T.D.C’s Ban Vihar or the Forest Department’s Rest Houses, besides other tourist lodges, cottages and dormitories. 


¤ The Valmiki National Park

The Valmiki National Park (335sq km) has been created amidst 544sq km of the Valmiki Sanctuary in the West Champaran district of Bihar, bordering Nepal. The magnificent Himalayas provide a backdrop to the sanctuary. Adjacent to the sanctuary, in the forests of Nepal, is the historic Valmiki Ashram in the Chitwan National Park of Nepal. The One-horned rhinoceros and Indian bison often migrate from Chitwan to Valmikinagar. The forest here is a mix of extensive Savannah lands and swamp forests. The forest in the sanctuary is rich in Bhabar-Dun sal, dry Siwalik sal, khair, cane etc. The extensive forest area of Valmikinagar was owned by the Bettiah Raj and Ramanagar Raj until early 1950s. Tigers dominate the wildlife landscape while other attractions include chitals, sambars, nilgais, leopards, hyenas, Indian civets, Jungle cats, Hog deer and wild dogs. As far as the density of the tiger population is concerned, Valmikinagar ranks fourth in the state. 

To Reach : Valmikinagar can be reached via Bettiah, with Patna as the nearest airport (105km). The best time to visit Valmikinagar is between October and June. A number of rest houses manned by the Irrigation Department are usually available.

¤ Wildlife Attractions

Rich in black bucks and nilgais, the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (134sq km) is the largest and one of the best faunal areas of Bihar. Its other wildlife denizens include chinkaras, tigers, leopards, hyenas, sloth bears, etc.

Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary
In the heart of Bihar lies the Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary (36sq km), bordered by a stretch of small historic hills associated with Jain and Buddhist history. A typical monsoon climate prevails over this region full of tropical dry deciduous forests. The sanctuary is rich in leopards, hyenas, barking deer and nilgais. The neighbouring Gautam Buddha Sanctuary (259sq km) in Gaya has similar climes. Further south, en route to Hazaribagh is the Koderma Wildlife Sanctuary (177sq km) situated on the Patna-Ranchi highway. Besides its rich wildlife, the place is famous for its scenic beauty. The most popular one amongst these is the Fhwajadhari Hillock. 

The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary
The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary (186sq km) and its surroundings continued to be the royal reserve of the Raja of Ramgarh until 1950. The densely forested plateau of Hazaribagh is rich in flora, and fauna that include leopards, Jungle cats, sambars, nilgais, Barking deer, chitals, wild boars, wolves, etc. Numerous observation towers in the sanctuary makes it easier to take a closer look at the wildlife. The jungles in Hazaribagh are teeming with a variety of trees like the sal, asan, dhow, salai, kend, and bamboo, to name just a handful from a long list. Like Koderma, Hazaribagh too is full of picturesque spots and offers leisure activities like boating at Salparni. In the heart of Hazaribagh is the Kunhary Hill, now referred to as the Canary Hill. Don’t expect to see canaries but maybe you could settle for the similar looking Golden Orioles.

To Reach : Hazaribagh is accessible by the National Highway 33, while the nearest railhead is the Hazaribagh Road. Ranchi, the nearest airport is 107km away. Besides cottages and dormitories at Rajaderwa, Forest Rest Houses are available at Rajaderwa, Salparni and Harhad. Halfway between the Betla National Park and Hazaribagh is the Lawalong Sanctuary that was once a prized place for hunters who gathered here in a big way for big game.

Bhimbandh Sanctuary
Close to Bhagalpur, the Bhimbandh Sanctuary (682sq km) is yet another home to a variety of wildlife. Besides tigers, panthers, wild boars, sambars, chitals and nilgais, the forests here are famous for hot water springs said to contain traces of radioactive matter.

In most wildlife sanctuaries primarily meant for mammals flourishes a spectacular bird life that often goes unnoticed. However, there are sanctuaries exclusive to birds where reptiles go unnoticed. The Kanwar Lake at Begusarai, a ‘ dream spot’ in the words of the great ornithologist, the late Dr Salim Ali, is one such haven. It is three times the size of the Bharatpur Sanctuary. The lake is home to about 106 species of resident birds and around 60 migratory birds that come all the way from Central Asia in winter. 

Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary
The Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary in Rajmahal Hills, incorporating the Pataura and Berhale lakes, is home to a variety of birds including different mynas, brahminy kites, fishing eagles, hose swifts and palm swifts flying at dizzying speeds. The Paradise-fly catcher is a wonder to behold as it flies, with its tail describing a wave-like movement.  

Rajmahal- A Fossil Site
Scattered with historical ruins and monuments, the Rajmahal has a lot of unique fossils. Some of the species unearthed here have also been found in the Jurassic rocks of distant countries like South Africa and Australia. The northern localities have yielded fossils in the form of impressions, while petrified fossils have been collected from the southern tracts. 

¤ Other Bird Sanctuaries in Bihar

Topchanchi(9sq km), 35km from the mining town of Dhanbad. Udaipur (9sq km) in Champaran, is noted for the flow of migratory birds including pochards, red crested pochards and coots. Resident birds include bronze winged jacanas, pond herons, egrets, swamp partridges, etc. The Nagi Dam Sanctuary (1.9sq km) near Jhajha is the smallest sanctuary in the state and also a place to spot migratory birds. 15km from Patna, Danapur is also a significant shelter for migratory birds, especially janghils (open billed storks).

Wallace, a British naturalist and explorer maintained that the innumerable animal species were not distributed arbitrarily around the world, but that each major region had its own zoological character. Bihar has its share of the rich Indian diversity of nature, where a good number of animals, birds and reptiles have helped uphold the image of the state as a wildlife haven. 

¤ The Wildlife Population

Chitals and sambars, often depicted as an ‘integral component of the Indian jungle scenery’, were once the largest group of animals in Bihar, and could be found almost everywhere. Today chitals are confined to sanctuaries at Palamau, Hazaribagh, Gaya, Champaran and Monghyr, while sambars are concentrated around Palamau, Hazaribagh, Monghyr, Koderma and Parasnath. The Birsa Mrig Vihar at Kalamati (23km from Ranchi) is a breeding farm for these two species of deer that have multiplied considerably in the past six years. April-May is the best time to look out for chitals with well-developed antlers. Moreover, it is around this time of the year that they move in groups. 

The smaller species like Hog deer once overran the Gangetic valley. They do not have beautiful white spots like the chitals and are rarely seen in herds. Chasing the hog deer was a popular sport among the indigo planters during the British Raj. Reclaiming grassy land for agriculture contributed to the factors that nearly led to the extinction of this deer. The Valmikinagar Sanctuary in Champaran is the only place in Bihar where one can locate the hog deer today. Unlike the hog deer, the barking deer is widely found in the sanctuaries of Dalma, Rajgir, Topchanchi, Lawalong, Udaipur, Koderma and Parasnath. The smallest in the deer family – the mouse deer (Indian Chevrotain) is not rare, although it is certainly too shy and retiring to be easily spotted. Its brown coat helps the tiny creature camouflage itself. However, you could try your luck at the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary


¤ The Tiger Attraction

Tigers in Bihar were once on the brink of extinction. However, the persistent and concerted efforts of Project Tiger saved the situation. The number of tigers at the Betla National Park was as dismal as 22 in 1974. By 1984 it had multiplied to 62. Once again it has dropped to 50. officials however believe that tigers often migrate to neighbouring states. Tigers are found in almost all the sanctuaries in Bihar, but their largest concentrations are at the Palamau Tiger Rerserve and the Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary in Champaran. 

Despite its sleek coat and extraordinary hunting prowess, the panther still seems to be shadowed by the image of the tiger and the lion. However, most wildlife enthusiasts feel that this graceful animal certainly outsmarts the tiger, and at times appears fiercer than the lion. Panthers can be seen at the Hazaribagh, Valmiki, Bimbandh, Topchanchi and Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuaries. 


¤ The Wolves

Wolves do not rate too high on the wildlife popularity chart, though at one time, hunting wolves was at par with hunting lions and tigers, especially with royalty. Wolves love to live and hunt in packs and the group is led by a dominant pair. Despite the animal’s ability to adapt to the changing environment, its number has greatly diminished. Thanks to the efforts made by the Mahuadhar Wolf Sanctuary(63sq km, close to the Palamau Tiger Reserve), the number of wolves in and around Hazaribagh, Gaya and Palamau has risen. 


¤ Great Indian Elephant

Elephants, the largest living land mammals are confined to the Palamau and Singhbum districts in Bihar. It was believed that there were no elephants in Bihar till the end of the nineteenth century, and that they suddenly appeared around 1920. However, medieval history is replete with references to elephants from Bihar. The Mughals loved to acquire elephants from this region. In the Makhzan-i-Afghani there is a precise reference to a white elephant, Shyam Chandra owned by the tribal king of Palamau. The elephant had a peculiar habit of not throwing dust upon his head. The Afghans reckoned this to be a symbol of power that could help pave their way to the throne of Delhi. Thus, Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan invader, forced the king to surrender along with his elephant.


¤ Dalma Sanctuary

Close to Jamshedpur, the Dalma Sanctuary (193sq km) is the best elephant habitat in Bihar. The pachyderms love to spend their summer here. Unlike Palamau that usually reels under a scorching sun, it continues to be pleasant at Dalma with temperatures mostly under 30⁰C. Elephants migrate to this sanctuary because of the availability of water during summer. The next best choice for getting the closest possible view of elephants is the Betla National Park, and the most appropriate time for doing this would be Feb-March. 

One of the boldest and biggest denizens of the jungle, gaurs prefer to remain close to elephants as they love to share the clumps pulled down by the tall tuskers. Gaurs usually move in herds except for the monsoon when they disperse and often fall prey to tigers. 

The black buck, one of the fastest animals, also known for its beautiful corkscrew horns, has not been as lucky as the chital while adapting to the changing environment. Today black bucks have survived only in Bhojpur and are confined to the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Wild dogs, often held responsible for the depredation of wildlife, are confined to Hazaribagh and Palamau sanctuaries. It is said that once a pack of wild dogs enters a forest, all wild animals, including tigers, leave it. The dogs consume sambar fawns, chitals and almost all herbivores in sight. In fact, wild dogs are despised even by hunters who hold them responsible for scaring game away.

Muggers and gharials are the two species of crocodiles found in Bihar. With the receding water levels of the Kosi River, the number of gharials (gavial) has greatly diminished. However, going by earlier reports from the village, numerous gharials cruise along with the floodwater and arrive at Madhepura town. Though gharials are found in the Ganges and the Gandak River, they mainly abound on the banks of the Kosi. Muggers (marsh crocodiles) have a wider distribution, as they inhabit stagnant water like jheels, reservoirs and rivers with slow currents. People at bathing ghats are always wary of these animals. The Karmanasa River in Rohtas, the Mohana River in Hazaribagh and the Bhera River near Ranchi are said to be infested with muggers. The Mutta Mugger Breeding Centre near Ranchi took off with three muggers from Bihar and two from Madras. Today the count has touched nearly fifty!

¤ Dolphins

Dolphins were once popular in the Ganges, though they are rare today. The 50km stretch of the Ganges from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon has been declared the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. Zoologists from Patna University claim to have sighted about 40 dolphins in the sanctuary.