March 3 is celebrated as World Wildlife Day with an aim to protect and conserve the wildlife across the globe. The theme of 2025 is “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.” Let’s explore the diverse wildlife of Telangana

Telangana, situated on the Deccan Plateau, experiences a distinct tropical climate characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, arid winters. This climate supports a diverse and rich variety of flora and fauna across the region

The State is home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, cheetal, sambar, nilgai, barking deer, and bison. Additionally, it serves as a winter haven for numerous migratory birds

Telangana's forests boast a diverse array of tree species, enhancing the region's rich botanical heritage. Notable among them are Jammi Chettu, banyan, neem, teak, custard apple, and mahua

The region’s largest wildlife reserves include Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Adilabad district, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve spread in Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts, and Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary in Adilabad. These sanctuaries are home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, black bucks and so on

Other sanctuaries include Eturunagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary, Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary, Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary

Biodiversity parks, which are mostly located near State capital are Ali Sagar Deer Park, KBR National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, Mrugavani National Park, Pakhal Sanctuary, Shamirpet Deer Park, and Ujwala Deer Park

The State bird of Telangana is the Palapitta (Indian Roller or Blue Jay). Palapitta is also considered a lucky omen. According to Hindu mythology, seeing the bird on Dasara or before starting a task leads to success

The Telangana’s State animal is Jinka (Spotted Deer). Spotted deer prefer dense deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests, and open grasslands. They also prefer heavy forest cover for shade. The highest numbers of spotted deer are found in the forests of India

The State tree of Telangana is Jammi Chettu, also known as Shami Chettu or the Spunge tree.  It is also the State tree of Rajasthan and the national tree of the United Arab Emirates. Renowned for its medicinal properties, Jammi Chettu has been traditionally used to treat various ailments

 The State fish is Striped Murrel, which is called Murrai in Hindi and Korameenu or Koramatta in Telugu. It is most sought after due to its taste, nutritional value, medicinal properties, and the ability to survive out of water for a longer period