The Big 7
Keystone Species
Every jungle has its “big boys.” These are the creatures that anchor the entire ecosystem. While other countries may have one or two keystone species, India has several.
Most of them are native to our jungles, and several are endemic and critically endangered.
At Encounters Asia we’ve made it our passion to observe these species over generations. When you safari with us across the different jungles of India, it’s an awe-inspiring experience, as you get close to these magnificent creatures in their native habitat.
The Big 7 Species of India
The Royal Bengal Tiger
(Panthera Tigris Tigris)
The Tiger is the Spirit of the Indian Jungle. Even his distant roar or an alarm call from some animal announcing his presence, charges the whole atmosphere. However, the tiger is far from just being a beautiful big cat.
The Asiatic Elephant
(Elephas Maximus Indicus)
Ponderous yet powerful, the Asian Elephant is a force to reckon with. They can be the most loving and playful animals, or they can wreck havoc.
Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros
(Rhinoceros Unicornis)
The Indian Wild Dog
(Cuon Alpinus)
Better known by its indigenous name, Dhole, the Indian Wild Dog is a fearsome predator. Lithe and agile, they hunt in packs of six or seven at a time.
The Asiatic Lion
(Panthera Leo Persica)
The Asiatic Lion is the last surviving lion outside the African continent. Once upon a time, these regal animals roamed all over the Indian Subcontinent, Persia and West Asia.
Bears
(Kipling’s Baloo)
Indian bears are immortalized in Kipling’s Baloo, a spin on the Hindi word for bear “Bhaloo”. But the truth is that there isn’t just one “baloo”. India is home to three different subspecies, which are quite distinct from one another.
