About
Delhi's Fauna and Flora
Fauna and Flora together represent the plant and animal life of a region. Flora refers to the naturally occurring plants, trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses, while fauna includes mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies and other wildlife. Together, they form interconnected ecosystems that support biodiversity, ecological balance and essential environmental functions.
Delhi supports a remarkable diversity of Fauna and Flora despite being a highly urbanised metropolitan region. Its diverse habitats - including the Delhi Ridge and Aravalli landscape, forests, scrublands, wetlands, the Yamuna floodplains, grasslands and urban green spaces - support 22 species of mammals, 471 species of birds, 22 species of reptiles (including 12 species of snakes), and 86 species of butterflies. Notable among them are Common Leopard, Striped Hyena, Nilgai, Golden Jackal, Indian Rock Python, Indian Cobra and a wide variety of resident and migratory birds.
A vegetation survey of Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary documented 237 plant species, including 85 tree species, 130 shrub and herb species, 18 grass species and 4 sedge species. Characteristic native plants such as Dhau, Palash and Jharber form an important part of Delhi’s natural heritage and provide food, shelter and breeding habitats for wildlife.
