Flora and fauna of Rajasthan

Rajasthan is India’s largest state by area. It borders Pakistan to the west and covers: • Thar Desert: sand dunes, rocky outcrops, saline depressions; annual rainfall 100–500 mm. • Aravalli Range: SW–NE fold mountains rising to ~1 700 m at Mount Abu. • Eastern plains and wetlands: alluvial areas in Bharatpur and Dausa districts. • Mount Abu: the state’s only hill station with subtropical evergreen forests. ==Ecosystems and vegetation types==

Thar Desert • Xerophytic shrubs and trees: Prosopis cineraria, Tecomella undulata, Acacia spp. • Grasses: Lasiurus sindicus (sewan grass) • “Greening” trends since late 20th century due to monsoon variability and the Indira Gandhi Canal. Aravalli Hills • Lower slopes: tropical thorn and dry deciduous forests (Tectona grandis, Acacia spp.). • Mount Abu: subtropical evergreen forests with endemic orchids, bryophytes and freshwater algae. • Acts as corridor for wildlife movement and barrier between desert and plains. Wetlands • Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur; ~29 km²; UNESCO World Heritage Site): wintering ground for >350 waterfowl species. • Sambhar Lake: India’s largest salt lake, important for flamingos and halophytes (Salvadora spp.). Other forest types • Tropical thorn forests: western Rajasthan. • Dry deciduous forests: eastern and southern districts. • Subtropical evergreen forests: Mount Abu highlands. • Bamboo and riverine forests: in moist southeastern Aravallis. ==Flora==

Regional representative species include: ;Thar Desert :* Prosopis cineraria (khejri; state tree) :* Tecomella undulata (rohida; state flower) :* Ziziphus spp., Acacia spp. :* Lasiurus sindicus ;Aravalli Range :* Tectona grandis (teak) :* Diverse orchids at Mount Abu ;Wetlands :* Nelumbo nucifera (lotus), Nymphaea spp. :* Salvadora oleoides, S. persica ;Other forests :* Shorea robusta, Madhuca longifolia, Diospyros melanoxylon :* Bamboo spp. ==Fauna==

Mammals Common mammals Rare mammals Recently reported mammals Birds Over 500 species have been recorded in Rajasthan. Reptiles and amphibians Insects and other invertebrates Insects from >14 orders (Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera), including desert locusts, butterflies, beetles, bees and ants. Arachnids include scorpions (e.g. Hottentotta tamulus) and spiders. • Giant wood spider (Nephila pilipes) ==Protected areas==

National parks • Ranthambore National Park (Sawai Madhopur; 1411 km²) • Sariska Tiger Reserve (Alwar; 1213 km²) • Desert National Park (Jaisalmer & Barmer; 3162 km²) • Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur; 28.7 km²) • Mukundra Hills National Park (Kota; 759 km²) • Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (Bundi;1502 km²) Wildlife sanctuaries • Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary • Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary • Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary • Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary • Tal Chhapar Sanctuary • Phulwari ki Nal Wildlife Sanctuary • Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary • Bhensrodgarh Wildlife Sanctuary • Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary • Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary • Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary • Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary • Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary • Sawai Madhopur Wildlife Sanctuary Conservation reserves and wetlands • Sundha Mata Conservation Reserve • Umedganj Bird Conservation Reserve • Gudha Bisnoiyan Conservation Reserve • Shakambhari Conservation Reserve • Jodbeed Gadhwala Conservation Reserve • Jhalana Amagarh Leopard Conservation Reserve • Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve ==Conservation efforts==

Government initiatives • Project Tiger: tiger reserves at Ranthambore and Sariska under NTCA. • Project Great Indian Bustard: launched 5 June 2013 for captive breeding and habitat protection. Research and institutions • Wildlife Institute of India – research, training • Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur – dryland forestry research Challenges • Habitat fragmentation: agriculture, urbanization, mining, infrastructure • Poaching and illegal wildlife trade • Human–wildlife conflict: crop raiding, livestock predation • Climate change: altered monsoons, temperature rise, habitat shifts • Ecological shifts: Thar “greening” favouring generalists over specialists ==See also==