Sariska Tiger Reserve is a protected area of 800 sq.km., cradled in the valley of the Aravalli Range. It was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and became a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1979. Sariska, with its awe-inspiring craggy canyons and tropical dry deciduous scrub jungles despite limited water supply, sets the marker for the western limits of tiger distribution in India. Tigers could be seen in the area even during the day time till 2002 or so. But unfortunately, due to poaching and many other reasons Tigers have disappeared from Sariska. The State Government started an all-out effort to re-introduce Tiger in Sariska under the technical supervision of the Wildlife Institute of India and has sent the detailed proposals, to Government Of India, for Re-introduction of Tigers in Sariska. The National Park got a Tiger Couple in July 2008 from Ranthambhore National Park. Another female tiger was relocated in February 2009. In 2012, two tiger cubs and their mother were spotted in the reserve bringing the total number of tigers to seven with five adults. It is the first reserve in the world to have successfully relocated tigers.
Sariska Tiger Reserve in 2023, have a total tiger population of 28.
The terrain of Sariska is hilly with numerous valleys, both wide and narrow, and expansive undulating plateaus. The characteristic features of the Aravalli range - sharp hog -black ridges - are conspicuous in the Reserve. Most of the high ridges are composed of quartzite conglomerates and grits.
The forests are of a typical dry deciduous type with Dhok as the dominant tree species of gentle to moderate slopes constituting over 90% of the tree canopy. The ridges support Salar on steep dry slopes. Khair and Cheela occur in vally beds. Bamboo grows to a limited extent along with moist and cooler parts. Aam, Jamun, Arjun, and Bahera, which grow in moist depression and on nallah banks attain large sizes. The ground cover is mainly Ber and Adusa. Zizyphus and Grewia are good fodder species. The dried and fallen leaves of Dhok help the herbivores to tide over the fodder scarcity during summer months. The forests become lush green in the monsoon months and completely dry in the summer months.
Sariska is very rich in wild animals. Panther, Hyena, Jackal and Jungle cat are the carnivores of the forest. Caracal and Wild dogs are seen very rarely. Among the prey, the population is the Sambhar, Chital, Nilgai, Wild boar, Hare, and Porcupine. Sariska is unique in animal distribution. The wild animals here seem to have decided their area -limits. Slopka is best for observing the Sambhar, Kundli for Chitals and Tarunda & Kalighati for Nilgai. Four-horned antelopes or chausingha can be seen in the Pondupole Nallah. Chausingha is exclusively Indian and is the only buck on earth with four horns. Sariska is also famous for its population of common Langurs and the Rhesus monkeys. Talviksh is where the main population of Rhesus exists and one can see hundreds of them at a time. Langurs can be seen in large numbers at Pandupole, slopka, and Kalighati as well. In Sariska, observing Wildlife at the water holes is quite fascinating during the hot days of April, May, and June. Water requirements increase and Wildlife activities get restricted to the water holes, especially around Kalighati and Slopaka. Sambars, Chitals, Nilgais, Chausinghas, Jackals, Wild boars, Langurs, etc. visit water holes throughout the day. The predators appear around dusk or during the silence of the night.
For the ornithologists and birding enthusiasts, the natural surroundings of Sariska draw the migratory birds from Siberia and China. It is quite a mingling of a horned owl, tree pie, grey partridge, woodpecker, peafowl, crested serpent eagle, bush quail, sand grouse. Probably, Sariska is the richest Tiger Reserve as far as fauna is concerned. More than 225 species of birds can be seen here. The populations of Peafowl, Grey partridges and Bush quail are conspicuous. Other commonly seen birds are Parakeets, Red spurfowl, Doves Green pigeon, Flycatchers, Bee-eaters, Shrikes, Woodpeckers Vultures, and Nightjars, etc.
Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) is the dominant tree species covering over 90 percent area of the forest. Boswellia Serrata and Lannea cormandalica grow at rocky patches. Kattha (Acacia catechu) and Bamboo are common in the valleys. Some valleys support Palas (Butea monosperma) and Ber (Zizyphus spp.). Besides these, some noteworthy tree species are Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Gugul (Commiphora wightii), Kadaya (Sterculia urens), Amla (Emblica Officinalis), Bahera (Terminalia belerica).