National animal of India | National Symbols

What is the National animal of India ?

Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India with effect from April 1973. The scientific name of Bengal Tiger is Panthera Tigris. Tiger is one of the largest specimen among the cat family. Royal Bengal Tiger is graceful, strong, agile and powerful animal.

Why Tiger was declared as National Animal of India?

The features of Bengal Tiger like grace, strength, agility and power, helped Bengal Tiger to earn its pride of place as the National animal of India. Indian Government launched ‘Project Tiger‘ to save tigers on 1st April 1973, from the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.

Total 27 Tiger reserves have been established under ‘Project Tiger‘ in the country so far, covering area of 37,761 sq km.

The national animal is among one of the important sign of natural wealth of a country. The national animal is selected based on certain criteria and features which a nation wants to be recognised with. Some of the important features are as below :-

• The national animal should be a part of the heritage and cultural history of the nation.
• The national animal should be in abundance list within the country.
• The national animal should be indigenous to that particular nation and suitable to be the identity of the country
• The national animal status helps in conservation of the animal and better efforts towards its sustained survival due to the official status.

Interesting Facts of Royal Bengal Tiger who is the national animal of India

1. Tiger is one of the largest specimen among the cat family.
2. Eight subspecies of tiger are-
   1. Royal Bengal,
   2. Amur or Siberian,
   3. South China,
   4. Indo-Chinese,
   5. Sumatran,
   6. Caspian,
   7. Java, and
   8. Bali.
3. Among these some tigers have been hunted to extinction like Caspian, Java, and Bali.
4. Tiger prefer the lowlands and is mostly seen in swamps, grasslands and mangroves. The Bengal mangrove ecosystem is a rich habitat for Royal Bengal Tigers and as they are good swimmers.
5. Lion was the national animal of India Till 1972. Later on November 18, 1972 The Royal Bengal Tiger was conferred as the national animal of India.
6. The Tiger is also the national animal of Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
7. Nagpur is known as the ‘Tiger Capital of India’
8. Due to decrease of forest cover, the population of Royal Bengal Tigers are falling rapidly and Tigers are added in the Red List by the IUCN.
9. Indian Government has launched Project Tiger in 1973 to conserve the Tigers.