Corbett National Park

In News 

  • Recently, the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change proposed to change the name of Corbett National Park to Ramganga National Park.

About Corbett Tiger Reserve

  • Location: 
    • Nainital, Uttarakhand.
    • Spans over an extent of 520 square km.
    • The whole area comprises hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands and a large lake.
    • Rivers: Ramganga, Kosi & Sonanadi.
  • Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park after Sir Malcolm Hailey, the governor of the United Province.
  • It was renamed Ramganga National Park, named after the river that flows through it, shortly after Independence and was rechristened yet again as Corbett National Park in 1956.
  • Corbett has the glory of being India’s oldest and most prestigious National Park.
  • It is a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve.
    • It is honoured as the place where Project Tiger was first launched in 1973.
  • Flora:
    • According to the Botanical Survey of India, Corbett has 600 species of plants comprising trees, shrubs, ferns, grass, climbers, herbs and bamboo.
    • More than 75% of the total area of Corbett is dominated by Sal forests.
  • Fauna:
    • Apart from Royal Bengal Tiger, it is also home to a sizable population of the endangered Asiatic elephant and other critically endangered species including the Gharial.
    • Mammal species include Asiatic Black Bear, Hog Deer, Walking Deer, Sambar, Sloth Bear, etc., a diversity of aqua fauna and birdlife with approximately 600 species including the great pied hornbill, white-Backed Vulture, Hodgson’s bush chat, etc. and reptiles like mugger Crocodiles, the king Cobra, etc.

Jim Corbett

  • Edward James Corbett was born on 25th July 1875 of English ancestry in the Nainital districts of Uttarakhand. 
  • He grew up spending much of his childhood exploring the wilderness that exists around him.
  • He spent the major part of his life at Gurney House (located in Nainital) with his large family, his mother Mary Jane Corbett and his sister Margaret Winfred Corbett, fondly called Maggie. 
  • He was blessed with excellent observation, fleet-footed and great stamina. 
  • He was so intelligent and active that he could read the signs of the forest and movement of wildlife and put all senses on (sight, hearing and smelling) while moving in the forests. 
  • He led a confirmed bachelor life and remained an active member of many wildlife preservation organizations and helped in conserving these natural resources.

Source:IE