Jim Corbett National Park

Some areas of the park were formerly part of the princely state of Tehri Garhwal. The forests were cleared by the Uttarakhand Forest Department to make the area less vulnerable to Rohilla invaders. Hunting was not allowed in the reserve, only timber cutting for domestic purposes was permitted. Soon after the establishment of the reserve, rules prohibiting the killing and capture of mammals, reptiles and birds within its boundaries were passed. The reserve is administered from its headquarters in the Nainital district. Corbett National Park is one of the thirteen protected areas covered by the World Wide Fund For Nature under their Terai Arc Landscape Program. The program aims to protect three of the five terrestrial flagship species, the tiger, the Asian elephant and the Indian rhinoceros by restoring wildlife corridors to link 13 protected areas of Nepal and India and to enable wildlife migration. == Geography ==

Jim Corbett National Park is located partly along Doon Valley between the Lesser Himalaya in the north and the Siwalik Hills in the south; it has a sub-Himalayan belt structure. The upper tertiary rocks are exposed towards the base of the Shiwalik range and hard sandstone units form broad ridges. Its present area is including a core zone and of buffer area. == Flora ==

Tree density inside the reserve is higher in the areas of Sal forests and lowest in the Anogeissus–Acacia catechu forests. Total tree basal cover is greater in Sal dominated areas of woody vegetation. in 2023, 617 species were noted, including 110 tree species. == Fauna ==

stag in Jim Corbett National Park Jim Corbett National Park is home to many wildlife species. Mammals are represented by the Indian elephant, Indian leopard, Bengal tiger, jungle cat, fishing cat and leopard cat. barking deer, sambar deer, hog deer, chital, sloth bear, Asiatic black bear, Indian gray mongoose, otters, yellow-throated marten, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolin, langur and rhesus macaque. Marsh crocodiles and gharials were released into Ramganga river. According to the 2022 census, there were 260 tigers in the park. There were around 1100 elephants in the park in 2019. The tigers in the park kill large animals like elephants, especially calves. More than 586 species of resident and migratory birds have been sighted, including the crested serpent eagle, Indian paradise flycatcher, greater coucal, blossom-headed parakeet and the red junglefowl, owls and nightjars. 33 reptiles species including the Indian python, 7 amphibians species, 7 fish species and 36 dragonflies species have also been recorded. == Ecotourism ==

bull charging a jeep Though the main focus is protection of wildlife, the reserve management has also encouraged ecotourism. This heavy influx of tourists has led to visible stress signs on the natural ecosystem. Excessive trampling of soil has led to reduction in plant species and resulted in reduced soil moisture. Tourists have increasingly used fuel wood for cooking. This fuel wood is obtained from nearby forests resulting in greater pressure on the ecosystem. ==Other attractions==

• Dhikala is situated at the fringes of Patli Dun valley. There is a rest house, which was built hundreds of years ago. Kanda ridge forms the backdrop, and from Dhikala, there are views of the valley. • Kalagarh Dam is located in the south-west of the wildlife sanctuary. Many migratory waterfowl come here in the winters. • Corbett Falls is a water fall situated from Ramnagar, and from Kaladhungi, on the Kaladhungi–Ramnagar highway. The falls are surrounded by dense forests. • Garjiya Devi Temple is sacred to Garjiya Devi and is mostly visited during the Kartik Purnima (November – December). It is located on the bank of the river Kosi, amidst the hilly terrains of Uttarakhand, nearby Garjiya village, at a distance of 14 km. from Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India. == Challenges ==

Past A major incident in the history of the reserve followed the construction of a dam at the Kalagarh river and the submerging of of prime low lying riverine area. The consequences ranged from local extinction of swamp deer to a massive reduction in hog deer population. The reservoir formed due to the submerging of land has also led to an increase in aquatic fauna and has additionally served as a habitat for winter migrants. Vines, herbs, grasses and small trees began to appear, followed by herbaceous flora, eventually leading to natural forest type. It was observed that grass began to grow on the vacated agricultural fields and the adjoining forest areas started recuperating. This figure dropped to 12 reported cases in 1997–98. Present The reserve habitat faces threats from invasive species such as the exotic weeds Lantana, Parthenium and Cassia. Natural resources like trees and grasses are exploited by the local population while encroachment of at least of by 74 families has been recorded. The increasing population growth rate and the density of population within to from the park present a challenge to the management of the reserve. Ecosystem valuation An economic assessment study of Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve estimated its annual flow benefits to be ₹14.7 billion (1.14 lakh / hectare). Important ecosystem services included gene-pool protection (₹10.65 billion), provisioning of water to downstream districts of Uttar Pradesh (₹1.61 billion), water purification services to the city of New Delhi (₹550 million), employment for local communities (₹82 million), provision of habitat and refugia for wildlife (₹274 million) and sequestration of carbon (₹214 million). ==In popular culture==

The 2005 Bollywood movie Kaal has a plot set in the Jim Corbett National Park. The movie was filmed at the park as well. In August 2019, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi appeared in a special episode of Discovery Channel's show Man vs Wild with the host Bear Grylls, where he trekked the jungles and talked about nature and wildlife conservation with Grylls. The episode was filmed in Jim Corbett National Park and broadcast in 180 countries along India. == See also ==