There are as many as 27 areas in the Deccan region that have been earmarked as protected areas for the Indian wildlife. The habitats of these areas are basically of three types, those comprising of deciduous forests, thorn forests and scrublands. Infact, Deccan peninsula has some of the largest tracts of deciduous forests in the country. Along with these areas, there are also pockets of semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, which are found mainly in the mountain range known as the Eastern Ghats.
Major National Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries of the Deccan Region
Nagarhole National Park
The main attractions of the park include Elephant, Leopard, Mouse Deer,
Panther, Sambar, Chital, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Slender Loris, Muntjac,
Pangolin, Langurs, Macaques, Wild Boar, Giant Squirrel, etc. One can
also hope to see Rock Python, Marsh Crocodile and Monitor Lizard, along
with more than 250 species of birds. Bandipur National Park
The main attractions of the park include Elephant, Gaur, Sambhar, Chital, Mouse Deer, Four-Horned Antelope, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear, Panther, Malabar Squirrel, Red-Giant Squirrel, Porcupines, Black-naped Hare, etc. The bird species found here include Shaheen Falcon, Honey Buzzard, King Vulture, Peafowl, Red and Grey Jungle Fowl, Grey Partridge and woodland birds.
Periyar National Park
The main attractions of the park include Elephants, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Sloth Bears, Otters, Gaur, Nilgiri Langurs, Lion Tailed Macaques, Bonnet Macaques, Porcupines, Malabar Squirrels, Wild Boars, etc. There are also reptiles, like Python, King Cobra, Dark Monitor Lizard, Flying Lizard, Flying Frog and Flying Snake, and over 200 species of birds.
Kanha National Park
The main attractions of the park include Leopard, Blackbuck, Barasingha, Chausingha, Sambar, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Nilgai, Porcupine, Hyena, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, etc. Kanha also houses Monitor Lizards, Pythons and other snake species. One can also hope to see birds like Pied or Marsh Harriers, Lesser Whistling Teals, Shovelers, Painted Spur Fowls & Racket Tailed Drongos.
BR Hills National Park
The main attractions of the park include Gaur, Chital, Sambhar, Bear, Elephant, Panther and Tiger. There are also over 200 species of birds in the park, such as Racket-tailed Drongo and the Crested Eagle.
Eravikulam National Park
The main attractions of the park include Nilgiri Tahr, Atlas Moth, Elephant, Sambhar, Gaur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger and Leopards.
Simlipal National Park
The main attractions of the park include Elephants, Deer, Leopards, Gaur Bison, Sloth Bears, Reptiles, Langurs, Wild dog, Wild boar, Sloth Bears, Hyenas, Porcupines, Gaur, Four-horned Antelope Crocodiles and more than 200 species of birds.
Nagarjunasagar National Park
The main attractions of the park include Bonnet Macaque, Bengal Fox, Blackbuck, Chinkara, Four-horned Antelope, Giant Flying Squirrel, Muntjac, Pangolin, Spotted Chevrotain, Porcupine, Tree Shrew Jackal, Leopard, Nilgai, Palm Civet, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Smooth-Coated Otter, Striped Hyena, Tiger, etc. The park also has 150 species of avifauna, including the Gray Hornbill and the Peafowl, and reptiles like Python, Soft-Shelled Turtle, Monitor Lizard and Marsh Crocodile.
Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
Apart from the Great Indian Bustard, the main attractions of the sanctuary include Blackbuck, Wolf, Indian Fox, Jackal, etc.
