9 rare animals you’ll find only in Indian national parks

ET Online

Jul 15, 2025

1. Lion-tailed macaque – Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

With its silver mane and expressive face, this shy primate lives only in the Western Ghats. Spotting one is a true forest treasure.

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Nilgiri tahr – Eravikulam National Park, Kerala

India’s own mountain goat, clinging to high-altitude cliff in Munnar. Endangered and fiercely protected, this tahr is a symbol of the south.

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Sangai deer – Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur

Also called the dancing deer, it’s found only on floating islands of this unique national park on Loktak Lake. Yes—floating islands!

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Hangul – Dachigam National Park, Jammu & Kashmir

The only stag species found in India, the Kashmir stag (Hangul) is critically endangered and makes its home in the pristine Himalayan forests.

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​Malabar civet – Western Ghats (Kozhikode region), Kerala

Thought to be nearly extinct, this nocturnal cat-like creature is a mystery even to scientists. Its last sightings were reported in protected Ghats forests.

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Gharial – National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh/Uttar Pradesh

With its long, thin snout and sharp teeth, the fish-eating gharial is only found in a few Indian rivers. The Chambal river is its last stronghold.

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Indian giant squirrel – Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

With its vibrant colours and tree-jumping agility, this squirrel is hard to miss—if you’re lucky enough to see one in the canopy!

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Indian purple frog – Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

Looks like it belongs on another planet. This bizarre, bloated-looking amphibian lives almost its entire life underground and emerges only during monsoon.

Image Source: iStock

Golden langur – Manas National Park, Assam

With its striking golden fur and soulful eyes, the golden langur is found only in a small pocket of Assam and parts of Bhutan. Sacred to local communities and extremely rare, this primate is one of India’s most beautiful forest secrets—and it’s disappearing fast.

Image Source: iStock

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