Keoladeo National Park

Keoladeo National Park lies near Bharatpur in Rajasthan, north-western India. Covering about 2,873 hectares, it occupies a natural depression with a diverse mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, woodlands and scrub. Dykes, sluices and water channels help maintain different water depths in parts of the park, creating habitat for a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. UNESCO describes the park as a wildlife refuge within a heavily populated landscape.

The area's modern history reflects a close relationship between water management and wildlife. A reservoir and associated works were developed in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the marshes were managed as a duck-hunting reserve for the rulers of Bharatpur and their guests. Hunting rights were withdrawn in 1972. The area was declared a national park in 1982; in 1985, Keoladeo was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its importance to biodiversity. It was also designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1981.

The park is internationally important for migratory waterfowl wintering in the region and for resident birds that breed there. UNESCO reports that about 375 bird species have been recorded, including the rare Siberian crane in its historical site description, and identifies the property as an important wintering ground for Palaearctic migratory waterfowl. A 2003 UNESCO–IUCN management assessment describes a habitat mosaic supporting hundreds of bird species and a notable heronry. Numbers and species observed can vary with water conditions and ecological change, so species records should be read as documented observations rather than a fixed annual count.

Keoladeo's wetlands rely on water delivered from sources outside the park, making supply and water quality central conservation concerns. UNESCO identifies water, invasive vegetation and pressures from nearby human activity among the park's management challenges. Water levels are managed across wetland blocks to provide a range of habitats, while conservation work also involves surrounding communities. The park illustrates how protected wetlands can depend on decisions made across a wider catchment, not just within their boundaries.