The western region of India is plentiful with various national parks and wild life sanctuaries. Desert national Park is one of the famous national parks of the region and also through out the India. It is in fact most colorfully inhabited natural desert of the world; it has at its heart the golden city of Jaisalmer, a popular tourist destination. The Desert National Park has an area of 3,162 sq km, situated forty-five kms in the western side of this city.

Being situated in the heartland of Indian Thar Desert of Rajasthan, it had adopted to the typography of the desert region. Sand dunes, both flat and uneven, low rock stones, few tinges of grasses lying scattered here and there. Few areas are covered with sewan grass, and also the aak shrub and khair, khejra and rohira trees are prevalent. Also the parched, sandy tracts with scarcity of water bodies are among various the characteristics, thereby making the park unique in its own way.

More so many animals have taken shelter in the dry, rugged terrain of Desert National Park. There are more than 40 species of reptiles, namely the burrowing Spiny-tailed Lizard, Russel`s Viper, Saw-scaled Viper and the dragon-like Common Monitor. Special type of fish, known as the Desert Skink is a locally born. It is better known as the sand fish as it `swims` or goes on by digging tunnels through sand, down to a depth of thirty cm. The tourists overwhelm by the scene of hoards of birds flying, singing. Nearly 120 species add color to the rugged shades of the desert.

There is prevalence of wolves sheltering in the sand dunes to escape the heat of sultry days. Other voracious animals are the Desert Fox, the Common Fox etc. Blackbuck, Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Nilgai (Blue Bull), Wolf. Desert Pox (below), Jackal, Desert Cat, Caracal, Desert Hare, Common Mongoose, Indian Desert Gerbil, Long-eared Hedgehog are some of the popular mammalian species of Desert National Park. The small and also elegant Chinkara (Indian Gazelle) move around especially in the sandy hilltops, quite unaware of the prevailing happenings.

Since water is most scanty, it is natural that few waterholes that are present will be crowed with the presence of animals. The Sudasari waterhole is one such an excellent site for observing the animals. Observation hides also offer close encounters with desert wildlife. Swamps of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, turn up in winter season from central Asia and can be seen at more or less particular time in the morning and that too near the waterholes. During this season, various waterfowl and flocks of migratory Demoiselle Crane are also found near the water. Larks, partridges, doves, bec-eaters, shrikes, chats, parakeets, babblers remain throughout the year. Sometimes these small birds become prey to the ferocious bird raptors. Buzzards, eagles, falcons and kites etc are some of them that soar high over the landscape and swoop up at right time. The ductile and shy Jackal and the black-spotted Desert Cat are mostly seen at waterholes.

In the Desert National Park other beautiful birds that are found, include Grey Francolin, Cream-colored Courser, Indian Courser, Eurasian Thick-knee, Common Raven, Bimaculated Lark, Southern Grey Shrike, Stoliczka`s Bushchat, Variable Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Desert Warbler etc.

Instances of the engendered species freely roaming around the park are quite evident. The remarkably beautiful Blackbuck is a special type of antelope found in India only. They are quite few in number in this park. The Indian Bustard and the MacQueen`s waders are extremely endangered species that are preserved in the Desert National Park with great care.

With the passage of time this reclusive park too becomes a victim of rash demands of mankind. It is the most thickly populated desert park of the world. As per numerous surveys of wildlife experts the Desert National Park has been acclaimed as an exclusive heritable storehouse of desert wildlife of India. In fact it took minimum of efforts for the region to grow so much lavishly. Prevention is being taken so that the park can retain its lavish treasure in tact even in the future years.