With the help of the World Wildlife Fund, Project Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park in 1973 and this park was one of the first such tiger reserves in the country. The varied topography comprises hilly and riverine areas, temporary marshy depressions, plateaus and ravines. The lower areas are almost completely populated by sal trees. Corbett is a haven for tigers with its plentiful prey - four kinds of deer, wild boar and lesser animals. Leopards are found in the hilly areas of the park but often do not cross paths with tigers in their territories.
Some nocturnal cats found here are the leopard cat, jungle cat and fishing cat.
Sloth bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan black bear is seen in the higher hills only. Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan palm civet, Indian gray mongoose, common otter, blacknaped hare and porcupine. The langur and rhesus monkeys are well distributed through out the park and also warn the jungle with alarm calls when they see either a tiger or leopard from tree-top perches.