Dudhwa
National Park
Further east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park,
which is also a Tiger Reserve, is located in the district of Lakhimpur - Kheri,
very close to the Nepal border. The 498.29 sq. km. Park has fine sal forests and
extensive grasslands. Tall coarse grass sometimes forming impenetrable thickets,
swampy depressions and lakes characterize the wetlands of the Park. These are
the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent swamp deer, noted
for their multi-fined antlers (bara-12, singha-horn). These in turn support the
predators - the tiger and leopard. Though the Park has a fair population of tigers,
they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest cover. The grasslands are
also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting project
undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were translocated here from Assam and Nepal,
in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude the possibility of wiping
out entire populations through disease and Epidemics. Presently, 13 rhinos car
be seen in Dudhwa. Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig
and the lesser cats - the fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa
has also an abundance of birds. Its marshes are home to a range of water birds
both local and migratory. There are spectacular painted storks black and white
necked storks, sarus cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great
Indian horned owl to the jungle owlet. Colourful woodpeckers, barbels, kingfishers.
minivets, bee eaters, and bulbuls flit through the forest canopy. A fragile natural
paradise, Dudhwa endeavors to protect its wild haven from the depredations of
an expanding human population.
General Information : Best Time to Visit
: November to May.
Nearest Town : Palia (10 Km)
How to Get Here : Air : Lucknow (250 Km)
Rail :
Dudhwa
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