Sariska

Sariska lies in Alwar district, Rajasthan, in the Aravalli Range and the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. The national park portion covers about 273.8 km² within a tiger reserve of 1,203.34 km²^[1]. Its habitat is scrub-thorn arid forest, dry deciduous forest, grassland and rocky hills.

Mammals include Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, caracal, striped hyena, honey badger, chital, sambar and nilgai. Birds include Indian peafowl, grey francolin, crested serpent eagle and Indian eagle-owl^[1]. Tigers disappeared in 2004 and were reintroduced from Ranthambore from 2008, reaching 30 by 2023.

Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) is the dominant tree, with salar, kadaya, dhak, ber, khair, banyan, arjun, gugal and bamboo. The forest types are tropical dry deciduous and tropical thorn, with shrubs such as kair and jhar ber^[1].

The reserve is part of the Aravalli Range, with rocky hills at elevations of 300 to 722 m^[1].

Average rainfall is about 700 mm a year^[1].

The ruins of Kankwari fort lie inside the reserve, and the village of Kankwari was relocated out of it long after tigers were reintroduced. The state tourism department renovated the fort, which may violate wildlife protection norms^[1].

The area was recognized as a wildlife reserve in 1955 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1958. It became a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1978 and a national park in 1982^[1].

Kankwari fort is the best-known historic site, and the tiger reintroduction is the park's defining story^[1].

The nearest city is Alwar, about 35 km away.

In 2003 the reserve held 16 tigers; by 2004 none could be found. Two tigers were moved from Ranthambore from June 2008, and the population grew to 18 in 2018 and 30 in 2023. A 2005 plan to relocate four villages moved only two, Bhagani and Kankwari, and diverting roads that cross the reserve remains unresolved. Relocated tigers are tracked with collars and satellites^[1].