sometimes as many as 250 to a herd. Sambar, Muntjac, hog deer, nilgai, wild pigs and sloth bears also inhabit the park, though they may not always be visible to visitors. The rhesus macaque and the common langur are fairly common in the park. Tigers and leopards are the prime predators in Rajaji. The leopard cat, jungle cat, civet and yellow-throated marten are other carnivores. Mammals like the jackal and the Bengal fox scavenge in the park. The Himalayan black bear, though uncommon, can be sighted in the higher reaches of the park. Other wild animals found in the park include: Asian elephant Bengal tiger Indian Leopard Dhole Jungle cat Goral Indian hare Sloth bear Himalayan black bear King cobra Golden Jackal Barking deer Sambar deer Wild boar Rhesus macaque Indian langur Indian crested porcupine Monitor lizard Python Over 315 species of birds are found in the park, whereas the wider region has over 500 species of birds, including both residents and migrants. The most prominent avian species include pea fowl, vultures, woodpeckers, pheasants, kingfishers and barbets, supplemented by a number of migratory species during the winter months. The park is also home to the great pied hornbill, pied kingfisher and the Fire-tailed sunbird. This area is the first staging ground after the migratory birds cross over the Himalayas into the Indian subcontinent. The rivers which flow through the park harbour species of fish such as trout and mahseer. Access The park has several gates, and is accessible from many cities in Uttarakhand e.g. Dehradun, Kotdwar, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Saharanpur, which is linked by train to other parts of India, is another popular point to reach the Mohand area of the park in nearly an hour by road. Incidents Rajaji National Park was in the news in April 2010 when a forest fire which started on the fringes of the park, spread out over a large area and threatened the Chandi Devi Temple. There are also many leopards that are becoming man eaters leading to many man-animal conflict situations. Elephants require a very large area and they may wander into populated areas. Unfortunately, Rajaji is just outside the Indian city of Haridwar and there are many wild animals wandering in the city. References National parks in Uttarakhand Memorials to C. Rajagopalachari Pauri Garhwal district Haridwar district Protected areas established in 1983 1983 establishments in Uttar Pradesh