India is home to hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, and thousands of birds. The varied climate and landscape make it an ideal place for the wildlife to survive. The great rivers of India like the Ganges, Yamuna and Brahmaputra and the dense forests of the Himalayas and the western Ghats add to the ecosystem, encouraging further growth of the varied species. India is the second largest country on the planet to have such a diversified life form.