Uttar Pradesh has several tiger reserves aimed at conserving and protecting the population of Bengal tigers. Here are the tiger reserves in Uttar Pradesh:
Contents
1. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
- Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located in Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts of Uttar Pradesh, India.
- It is situated in the Terai region of the Himalayan foothills, near the Indo-Nepal border.
- The tiger reserve includes the Dudhwa National Park, and two nearby Sanctuaries, viz. Kishanpur and Katerniaghat, besides forest areas of North Kheri, South Kheri and Shahjahanpur forest divisions in its buffer.
- In 1965, Dudhwa area was established as a wildlife sanctuary to protect the swamp deer (barasingha) population in the region.
- In 1977, Dudhwa Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a national park.
- In 1987, Dudhwa National Park and the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary was together declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger.
- In 2000, the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary was added in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
- Area: The tiger reserve is spread across an area of about 1093.79 sq.km.
- Core : 1093.79 sq.km.
- Buffer : 1107.9848 sq.km.
- Total : 2201.7748 sq.km.
- River: The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is traversed by several rivers, which include:
- Sharda
- Suheli
- Mohana
- Joraha
- Nagrol
- Nakua
- Newra
- Ull
- Flora: Sal, Asna, Asidha, Haldu, Gahmhar, Kanju, Khair, Vija sal, Jhigan, Toon, Kath neem, Van Tulsi, Rohni etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Great Indian Rhino, Asian Elephant, Swamp Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Fishing cat, Smooth Indian Otter, Spotbilled Pelican, India Longbilled Vulture, Sarus Crane, Mugger, Ghariyal, Monitor Lizard, King Cobra etc.
- A large number of rhinos are found in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. It is the only place in Uttar Pradesh where both Tigers and Rhinos can be spotted together.
2. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
- The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is located in the Pilibhit district and Shahjahanpur district of the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.
- The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is forms a part of the Terai Arc Landscape, in the upper Gangetic Plain Biogeographic Province.
- In 1908, The Pilibhit Forest Division was established as a protected forest area.
- In 1984, a portion of the Pilibhit Forest Division was declared as a wildlife sanctuary, known as Pilibhit Wildlife Sanctuary.
- In 2014, Pilibhit Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a tiger reserve under the Project Tiger initiative. It is the 45th tiger reserves of India.
- In 2020, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve has bagged the first TX2 Award for doubling the number of tigers in the past four years (2014-18). The number of tigers in the reserve area has gone up to 65 from 25 in the period of just four years (2014-18).
- Area: The tiger reserve covers an area of approximately 730 square kilometers (280 square miles).
- Core : 602.7980 sq.km.
- Buffer : 127.4518 sq.km.
- Total : 730.2498 sq.km.
- River: Gomti river originates from the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. It is also the catchment of several others rivers like Sharda, Ghaghara, Chuka and Mala Khannot.
- Chukha beach is the part of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. It is situated on the bank of Sharda river (Sharda Sagar reservoir).
- Lake: located within the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve:
- Sharda Sagar Dam
- Barasingha Lake
- Tribe: The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is home to various tribal communities, including the Tharu tribe.
- Tharu Tribe
- Flora: Sal (76% of the area), Khair, Sissoo, Mahua, Bamboo, Teak etc.
- Fauna: Bengal Tiger, Swamp Deer, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Sloth Bear, Short-nosed Fruit Bat, Hyena, Hispid Hare, Bengal Florican, Saras, Mugger Crocodile, Gharial etc.
3. Ranipur Tiger Reserve (54th Tiger Reserve in India)
- Ranipur Tiger Reserve is located in Ranipur of Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh, India.
- In 1977, it was established as a wildlife sanctuary.
- In 2022, the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve.
- Ranipur Tiger Reserve is the 54th Tiger Reserve in India.
- It is first tiger reserve in the Bundelkhand region of the Uttar Pradesh.
- Area: The Ranipur Tiger Reserve span across 529.89 square kilometres (sq km).
- Core Area: 230 sq km.
- Buffer Zone: 299.58 sq km.
- River: Bardaha River flows through the tiger reserve.
- Flora: Saal, Tendu, Khair, Mahua, Bamboo, Palash, Dhau etc.
- Fauna: Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Blackbucks, Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Chinkara, Spur Fowl, Jungle Fowl, Painted Partridges, Rat Snakes, Vipers etc.
4. Amangarh Tiger Reserve
- Amangarh Tiger Reserve is located in Amangarh in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
- It is an extension and a buffer to Jim Corbett National Park.
- In 2012, Amangarh Tiger Reserve was officially notified as a Tiger Reserve.
- In 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government plans to upgrade Amangarh Tiger Reserve and rename it as ‘New Jim Corbett’.
- Area: The tiger reserve has an area of 95 square kilometers (36.79 square miles).
- Hills: It is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas.
- River: The Ramganga River flows near the tiger reserve.
- Flora: Sal, Teak, Sheesham, Semal, Dhak, Jamun, Ber, Jatropha etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Cheetal, Sambhar, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Jungle Owlet, Red Jungle Fowl, Grey Hornbill, Indian Rock Python, Indian Cobra, Indian Chameleon etc.