Dudhwa National Park and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve are on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur Kheri District of Utter Pradesh state in India. Dudhwa National Park offers extensive opportunities for nature lovers, bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts, etc.

Misty morning in Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa National Park is part of the Terai ecosystem, which supports many endangered animal species and is a wetland rich in flora. It has an area of 490.3 square kilometers with a buffer zone of 190 square kilometers. This park is part of the Upper Gangetic plains.

This National Park was established initially as a wildlife sanctuary in 1958, mainly for the Swamp Deer. Later on, in the year 1977, it became a National park.

This National Park is one among the three National Parks of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, which consists of two other National parks, namely Krishnapur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Dudhwa National Park was declared a tiger reserve in 1979. Other two nearby national parks were also declared as tiger reserves under Project Tiger in 1987. Thus, the three national parks, Dudhwa National Park, Krishnapur National Park, and Katarniaghat National Park, were combined to form the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in 1987.

Flora and Fauna of Dudhwa National Park & Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

The Tiger Reserve is rich in biodiversity and is of national and international importance in protecting our planet from Carbon emissions. It has got many endangered species. This park has dense forests, and some trees are over 150 years old. Tigers, numbering 58, and Swamp deer, numbering 1600, are the main animals here. Hispid Hare (a leopard species), considered extinct, was rediscovered in this park in 1984. Single-horned Indian Rhinos were reintroduced here, mainly from the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in India and neighboring Nepal.

Over 350 bird species are found in this national park cum tiger reserve near the Nepal border. It is one of the top birding sites for any bird watcher.