In this guide
In the grasslands of the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer lives one of the rarest birds on Earth — the Great Indian Bustard, known locally as the godawan. Standing about a metre tall, it once roamed the grasslands of much of India. Today, only a small number survive, most of them in Rajasthan. The godawan is Rajasthan's state bird, and its fate has become a test of whether the state can balance development with conservation. It is also a good entry point into the wider topic of Rajasthan's forests and wildlife.
Forest cover
- Rajasthan has one of the lowest shares of forest cover of any Indian state — only around 5% of its geographical area, according to recent India State of Forest Reports — though its total forest area is significant because of the state's size.
- Forests are concentrated in the south and south-east (Udaipur, Pratapgarh, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Sirohi, Baran, Karauli) and along the Aravallis.
- The desert has very little forest, but its scrub, grasslands and trees outside forests (like the khejri) are ecologically vital.
Forest types
| Type | Where | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical dry deciduous | South and south-east — Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota, Baran | Teak (south), dhok, salar, khair, tendu |
| Tropical thorn forests | West and north-west | Khejri, babool, ker, ber, rohida |
| Sub-tropical (hill) forests | Mount Abu | Evergreen and semi-evergreen species |
| Dhok forests | Aravallis | Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) — the most common tree of the Aravallis |
State symbols
| Symbol | Species |
|---|---|
| State tree | Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) |
| State flower | Rohida (Tecomella undulata) |
| State bird | Great Indian Bustard (godawan) |
| State animals | Chinkara (wildlife category) and camel (livestock category) |
Tiger reserves
Rajasthan has five tiger reserves:
| Tiger reserve | District(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranthambore | Sawai Madhopur | Among India's first tiger reserves (1973, Project Tiger); world-famous for tiger sightings |
| Sariska | Alwar | Tiger reserve since 1978; tigers disappeared by 2004–05 due to poaching, and were reintroduced from Ranthambore in 2008 — the world's first such reintroduction |
| Mukundra Hills | Kota, Chittorgarh, Bundi, Jhalawar | Notified in 2013 |
| Ramgarh Vishdhari | Bundi | Notified in 2022 |
| Dholpur–Karauli | Dholpur, Karauli | Rajasthan's newest (fifth) tiger reserve |
National parks and important sanctuaries
| Area | District | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Keoladeo National Park | Bharatpur | A wetland bird paradise created as a duck-shooting reserve by the Bharatpur rulers; UNESCO World Heritage Site (1985) and Ramsar site (1981); once the winter home of the Siberian crane |
| Desert National Park | Jaisalmer, Barmer | Great Indian Bustard; dunes; Akal Wood Fossil Park |
| Mukundra Hills National Park | Kota | Part of the tiger reserve |
| Tal Chhapar | Churu | Blackbuck; migratory raptors |
| Kumbhalgarh | Rajsamand, Pali, Udaipur | Wolves, leopards; Aravalli forests |
| Mount Abu | Sirohi | Hill forests |
| Sitamata | Pratapgarh | Flying squirrels; teak forests |
| Jawai | Pali | Leopards living alongside villages (conservation reserve) |
| National Chambal Sanctuary | Along the Chambal | Gharials, dolphins |
The Great Indian Bustard
- Critically endangered; only a small population remains, mostly in the Thar.
- Threats: collisions with power lines, habitat loss (grasslands converted to farms and energy projects), hunting in the past, slow breeding.
- Project Godawan / conservation breeding — centres near Sam and Ramdevra (Jaisalmer) have hatched chicks from wild-collected eggs, aiming to build a captive population for eventual release.
- The Supreme Court has issued directions on power lines in the bird's priority habitat, balancing conservation with renewable energy.
Community conservation
- Bishnois — protect trees and animals (blackbuck, chinkara) as a religious duty; remembered for the Khejarli sacrifice (1730).
- Orans — sacred groves around temples and villages, traditionally protected by communities; important habitats and grazing lands.
- Menar and Khichan — villages that protect migratory birds (both now Ramsar sites, 2025).
Threats
| Threat | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Habitat loss | Mining, agriculture, energy projects, urban growth |
| Poaching | Tigers (Sariska 2004–05), blackbuck, birds |
| Human–wildlife conflict | Leopards near villages; tigers straying outside reserves |
| Grazing pressure | Degradation of forests and grasslands |
| Invasive species | Prosopis juliflora (vilayati babool) spreading in grasslands |
| Water | Reduced water supply to Keoladeo in drought years |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- What is the state bird of Rajasthan?
- Name Rajasthan's five tiger reserves.
- When was Keoladeo inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- Where were tigers reintroduced in 2008?
- Which sanctuary in Churu is famous for blackbuck?
Mains-style (50 words): Why is the Great Indian Bustard critically endangered?
Mains-style (100 words): Discuss the role of community traditions in wildlife conservation in Rajasthan.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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