The Ranthambore National Park, one of the largest wildlife reserves in North India, was once a princely game conserve. In 1955 established as a wildlife sanctuary and was later 1973 included in the first phase of Project Tiger. The Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary was awarded national park status in 1980. Besides tigers, the national park serves as a natural habitat for various wild animals, such as jackals, leopards, hyenas, marsh crocodiles, wild boars, and different varieties of deer. In addition, aquatic vegetation is abundant in the park. This wildlife reserve sprawls over an area of 392 sq km. Known for tiger conservation, it is one of the best national parks in the country. Tourists can use the roads to pass through the park, constructed and maintained by the forest authority.