India’s rich natural heritage has always enticed nature enthusiasts across the globe. Despite being the second most populated country in the world, home to over 1.3 billion people (one-sixth of the world’s population), it is remarkable that India still holds 22% forest cover. The pressure of population has not at all affected the forest cover in India, in fact, 2013 Forest Survey of India Report claims that there has been an increase in forest cover from 68 million hectares in 2010 to 69.8 million hectares as of 2012.

One of the 12 mega bio-diverse regions in the world, India has every possible habitat from arid desert to estuarine forests, tropical forest to high mountains. Four hundred ninety-seven wildlife reserves/ preserves boast of numerous forest types habouring some 47000 species of flora (12% of floras recorded in the world), over 59000 species of insects, over 2500 species of fishes, over 350 mammals species (over 7% of earth's recorded faunal species) with 45 endemic species, 521 reptile species (231 endemics to region), 384 amphibian species and over 1300 bird species talks about the richness of Indian biodiversity.

The above data is the testimony of a robust bio-diversity and the successful coexistence of man and animal in the face of adversity.

India has a very strong history that animals not only coexisted with the human race but we have played a big role in the conservation of animals. Hindu mythological and religious literature are full of references of the same and one such example is the plethora of Hindu gods and goddesses having birds and animals as their mounts. This has been done with the intention that people participate in the conservation of wildlife in the name of protecting the mounts of gods and goddesses. Other such examples are that of the two thousand years old “Panchatantra” collection of stories where animals have been made the center characters, the Upanishads having detailed descriptions of horses and cattle, the “Garudapurana” having life-histories of fishes and turtles and kings and emperors having birds and animals as the emblems of their kingdoms.

Despite the pressure of development and the huge challenge of man-animal conflict India has managed to harbour half of the world’s Wild Tigers, 70% of the Asian Elephant, three fourth of the world's One-horned Rhinoceroses, and the entire remaining population of Asiatic Lion stand as evidence to how India has managed to conserve its natural heritage against all odds.

India’s birdlife is as rich as its wildlife - over 1300 species of birds are found here and of which 50 are endemic to India.

Above are some of the reasons that wildlife or bird enthusiasts should not give a miss to India when it comes taking a wildlife or bird watching or birding vacation.