Dudhwa National Park is one of the most important projects in India to protect wildlife. The Dudhwa National park is located in the state of Lakhimpur-Kheri District of Uttar Pradesh, right next to the border with Nepal.
It has marshes, grasslands, and dense forests that cover about 811 km2. Moreover, it is home to more than 38 mammals, 16 species of reptiles, and many birds. It has two main areas: Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. They are 15 km apart, and there are fields in between. Unlike some of India’s other big national parks, like Corbett and Kaziranga, there are no businesses in this Park. This makes it a great place for people who love animals and birds to spend a day or two in peace, close to nature.
What Animals Are Present In Dudhwa National Park?
There are a lot of tigers and leopards in the Park, but the thick vegetation makes it hard to see one. There used to be a lot of Indian one-horned rhinos in the area, but they all died out because they were killed for their horns. The rhinos, which were brought to the Park from Kaziranga in Assam in 1984, are once again doing well there.
As a big win for the environment, the Park now has more than 30 rhinos, which are likely to be seen on an elephant-back safari. The Park is also home to swamp deer, which people in the area call “barasingha,” Cheetal, and Hog deers, monkeys, elephants, porcupines, Sambar, langurs, and many other animals. The Park is home to almost 800 different kinds of birds, such as the Great Pied Hornbill, Flycatchers, Kingfishers, Drongos, and many more. From September to March, many migratory birds stop by the Park’s water bodies, and the rivers are home to a wide range of turtles, crocodiles, and fish.
Gangetic dolphins are said to live in the river Geruwa. There are 38 mammals, 16 species of reptiles, 400 species of birds, and 90 species of fish living in Dudhwa National Park. The swamp deer is the main thing to see in Dudhwa. Half of the 4000 swamp deer in the world live here. Other types of deer that live here are the hog deer, the spotted deer, the barking deer, and the Sambar. In 1995, the government said there were 98 tigers, but conservationist Billy Arjan Singh, who died in 2010, said there wasn’t enough food for more than 20 tigers. Since 1984, the number of rhinos has grown from 7 to 16. A leopard or two and a hispid hare have been seen. Wild boars, elephants, and bears are sometimes seen here as well.
Where Is Dudhwa National Park Situated?
The Dudhwa national park is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is made up of the Dudhwa National Park (680 km2), the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (204 km2), and the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (440 km2), which are all in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, India, on the border with Nepal. It has some of the best natural forests and grasslands left in the Terai district of Uttar Pradesh.
Furthermore, it is also the last place where the Royal Bengal Tiger can live in the state, along with swamp deer, Indian one-horned rhinoceros, and the elusive hispid hare. It has great forests of Sal trees, among other plants, and is a paradise for people who love nature, animals, and birds but haven’t seen much of it yet.
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History
After India got its independence in 1947, local people began to move into the jungle, and paddy and sugarcane began to replace the forests. It is right on the border between India and Nepal, making it a great place for poachers to hunt animals and sell them in Nepal, a tourist destination with a big market for these things. It was a paradise for poachers, people who liked wildlife, and locals. “Billy” Arjan Singh worked hard and did everything by himself to make this Park what it is today.
In 1965, the area was made a wildlife sanctuary, which was criticized by many of the people who used the area. Billy supported the decision to the point of being obsessive, and he went on to convince Indira Gandhi, who was Prime Minister at the time, to make the forest a national park in 1977. In 1984 and 1985, seven rhinos from Assam and Nepal were moved to Dudhwa to bring back a population that lived there 150 years ago. Four years later, it was made a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger. It is one of the most important places in India for tigers to live.
The Kashipur Wildlife Sanctuary is the oldest of the three protected areas in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. It was made a wildlife sanctuary in 1972, followed by the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975, and then the Dudhwa National Park in 1977. People sometimes call the three parks together by their most popular name, Dudhwa, which is wrong. The three parks are all different, but they are close to each other and share the same terai ecosystem, which is home to a large number of plant and animal species.
The Landscape Of Dudhwa National Park
The Dudhwa National Park is made up of rivers and small lakes called “taals.” These lakes give the Park enough fresh water all year long. Because of this, the area has lots of lush, green forests that keep the ecosystem healthy. Nearby, the Sharda River touches the edge of Kishanpur Wild Life Sanctuary, and the Ghagra River’s tributaries Geruwa, Suheli, and Mohana streams flow through the Park. Bankey Taal, Kakraha Taal, and Amraha are all important shallow lakes.
The land is good for farming, and the Park is surrounded by farms that produce three or four crops a year. Farmland that is getting closer to the Park and a train track that goes through the Park could be big problems in the future. The only way to get to the Park is by crossing a bridge over the river Sharda. This bridge works as a one-way bridge for both cars and trains. When the new bridge, which is still being built, is done, business traffic into the Park will be affected even more.
The forest is in the foothills of the Himalayas, where grasslands, swamps, and dense forests of tall sal trees cover the flat land. The area is a large alluvial plain that is very fertile. This mix of ecosystems is a key part of how many species can stay alive. Tigers, deer, rhinos, and other animals live naturally in the swamps and large grasslands with tall, yellow grass. Other animals and birds also live in dense forests. Moreover, the dudhwa national park hotels are very famous. So, you should consider making Dudhwa national park bookings if you wish to visit.
Climate
In the winter, the temperature can go as low as 2°C and as high as 45°C. The Park gets enough rain, and from mid-June to mid-November, it’s closed to visitors when it’s rainy.
FAQs: Dudhwa National Park
Why Dudhwa National Park Is Famous?
Dudhwa National Park is known for its tigers (there were 58 of them in 2014) and swamp deer (population over 1,600). Tigers and leopards born in zoos have been raised by hand and released back into the wild in Dudhwa. The Park is home to some rare species.
How Many Tigers Are There In Dudhwa?
In 2021 during the last census, 107 tigers were thought to live in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Dudhwa National Park?
The best time to visit Dudhwa National Park is between November 15 and June 15. But if you want to see the best of the place, you should go between February and April.
Parvaiz Yousuf is a senior SEO writer and editor with an experience of over 6 years, who also doubles up as a researcher. With an MSc zoology degree under his belt and possessing complete Search Engine Optimization (SEO) knowledge, he works as a science journalist for a US-based website and Asian Scientist (A Singapore-based magazine). He also works as Director of Wetland Research Centre, Wildlife Conservation Fund YPJK since 2018. Besides, he has several publications to his name on cancer biology and biochemistry in some reputed journals such as Nature & International Journal of Molecular Sciences, & magazines such as Science Reporter, BUCEROS BNHS, and has an abiding interest in ornithology. He also worked as a Research Associate for JK Policy Institute.
