National Parks in Uttar Pradesh, Tiger Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries

National Parks in Uttar Pradesh and other protected areas are legally notified regions meant for long term conservation of wildlife, forests, wetlands, and ecological balance. National Parks offer the highest protection, prohibiting human activities like grazing and resource extraction, while Wildlife Sanctuaries allow limited human use under regulation. Biosphere reserves, tiger reserves, and conservation reserves together protect habitats, migration corridors, river systems, and endangered species. In Uttar Pradesh, these protected areas safeguard grasslands, wetlands, forests, and dry deciduous ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and ecological security.

Protected Areas of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has an extensive protected area network covering forests, wetlands, rivers, and grasslands.

1. National Parks: Only one National Park exists within state boundaries.
2. Wildlife Sanctuaries: The state has 25 notified wildlife sanctuaries.
3. Tiger Reserves: Six tiger reserves notified under Project Tiger framework.
4. Safari Parks: In Uttar Pradesh Etawah Safari Park is one of the major areas.
5. Wetland Protection: Multiple Ramsar sites protect migratory bird habitats.
6. River Conservation: Chambal, Ganga, Yamuna wetlands safeguard aquatic fauna.
7. Corridor Importance: Several sanctuaries act as tiger and elephant corridors.

National Parks in Uttar Pradesh

There is only one notified National Parks in Uttar Pradesh which makes it unique among large Indian states. Despite limited National Parks, the state compensates through an extensive network of wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, bird sanctuaries, and Ramsar wetlands. These areas collectively protect Terai forests, riverine ecosystems of Ganga and Chambal, Vindhyan hills, and Indo-Nepal border forests. Uttar Pradesh plays a strategic role in tiger corridors, wetland bird conservation, gharial protection, and Central Asian Flyway migratory routes.

Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa National Park is Uttar Pradesh’s only National Park in India, protecting Terai forests and grasslands along the Indo-Nepal border.

1. Location: Situated in Lakhimpur Kheri district near Nepal border Terai belt.
2. Ecosystem: Comprises sal forests, grasslands, swamps, and seasonal floodplains.
3. Hydrology: Influenced by rivers like Suheli and Mohana causing periodic flooding.
4. Flagship Species: Supports Bengal tiger, swamp deer, one-horned rhinoceros rehabilitation.
5. Connectivity: Linked ecologically with Kishanpur and Katerniaghat sanctuaries.

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Tiger Reserves in Uttar Pradesh List

Tiger Reserves in Uttar Pradesh strengthen conservation of tigers and forest corridors. The list of major Tiger Reserves located in UP has been given below:

1. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
2. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
3. Amangarh Tiger Reserve
4. Ranipur Tiger Reserve 

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve integrates forests, wetlands, and grasslands forming a critical tiger stronghold. It is the largest tiger landscape in Terai region of Uttar Pradesh.

1. Components: Includes Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur and Katerniaghat sanctuaries.
2. River System: Ghaghara separates Dudhwa National Park from Katerniaghat Sanctuary.
3. Faunal Diversity: Hosts tiger, gharial, marsh crocodile, swamp deer species.
4. Grassland Species: Known for swamp deer and Bengal florican presence.
5. Transboundary Link: Connects with Nepal’s Bardia National Park.
6. Conservation Value: Maintains genetic flow between Indian and Nepalese tiger populations.

Amangarh Tiger Reserve

Amangarh Tiger Reserve protects western Terai forests linked with Corbett landscape. It is the buffer extension of the Corbett Tiger Reserve ecosystem of Uttarakhand.

1. Location: Situated in Bijnor district along Uttarakhand border region.
2. Ecological Role: Acts as buffer and corridor of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
3. Forest Type: Dominated by sal forests and riverine vegetation.
4. Wildlife Presence: Frequented by tigers, elephants, deer, and leopards.
5. Connectivity: Ensures movement between Corbett and western UP forests.
6. Management Focus: Emphasizes corridor conservation and habitat restoration.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is a globally recognized success story in tiger conservation. Terai grassland reserve along the Indo-Nepal border region.

1. Location: Spread across Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur districts.
2. Eco-Zone: Lies in Terai belt along Indo-Nepal Himalayan foothills.
3. Legal Status: Declared Tiger Reserve in 2014 under Project Tiger.
4. Hydrology: Bounded by Sharda Sagar Dam and Sharda River system.
5. Vegetation: Features sal forests, tall grasslands, floodplain swamps.
6. Major Fauna: Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, hog deer, gharial species.
7. TX2 Award: Won TX2 Award 2020 for doubling tiger numbers.
8. Global Recognition: Appreciated by UNDP and WWF for conservation practices.
9. Community Model: Known for low conflict and strong local participation.

Ranipur Tiger Reserve

Ranipur Tiger Reserve strengthens Bundelkhand’s forest connectivity with central India. It is Bundelkhand’s first tiger reserve and corridor zone.

1. Location: Situated in Chitrakoot district within Bundelkhand region.
2. Landscape: Lies in northern Vindhya mountain range ecosystem.
3. Status: Approved as Uttar Pradesh’s fourth tiger reserve.
4. National Rank: Recognized as India’s 53rd tiger reserve.
5. Forest Type: Comprises tropical dry deciduous forests.
6. Faunal Movement: Tigers migrate from nearby Panna Tiger Reserve.
7. Corridor Role: Acts as a vital corridor between Vindhyan tiger habitats.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh

Wildlife sanctuaries form the backbone of biodiversity conservation in Uttar Pradesh. It protects wetlands, forests, grasslands, rivers, hill ranges. Several sanctuaries support migratory bird populations, gharials and river dolphins. These are mainly located across Terai, Gangetic plains, Vindhyas, Bundelkhand. Multiple wetlands designated internationally significant through declaration of Ramsar Sites. These sanctuaries coexist with traditional settlements.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh List

Uttar Pradesh hosts diverse Wildlife Sanctuaries with unique ecological significance. The List of major Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh has been given below:

1. Bakhira Sanctuary: Eastern UP’s largest wetland, Ramsar site, migratory birds hub.
2. Chandraprabha Sanctuary: Kaimur hills forest with waterfalls and rivers.
3. Hastinapur Sanctuary: Established for swamp deer, along Ganga floodplains.
4. Kaimur Sanctuary: Tiger and elephant corridor across Vindhyan range.
5. Katerniaghat Sanctuary: Gharial habitat linking Dudhwa with Nepal forests.
6. Kishanpur Sanctuary: Grassland ecosystem supporting swamp deer and floricans.
7. National Chambal Sanctuary: Clean river habitat for gharials and dolphins.
8. Okhla Bird Sanctuary: Yamuna wetland with over 300 bird species.
9. Saman Bird Sanctuary: Ramsar site conserving sarus cranes.
10. Sur Sarovar Sanctuary: Ramsar wetland hosting 30,000 migratory waterbirds annually.
11. Suhelwa Sanctuary: Large Terai forest strip along Indo-Nepal border.

Other Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh include:

• Sarsai Nawar Wetland
• Kachhua Sanctuary
• Lakh Bahosi Sanctuary
• Mahavir Swami Sanctuary
• Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
• Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
• Patna Bird Sanctuary
• Ranipur Sanctuary
• Samaspur Sanctuary
• Sandi Bird Sanctuary
• Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary
• Suraha Tal Sanctuary
• Vijai Sagar Sanctuary

Safari Parks in Uttar Pradesh

Safari Parks in Uttar Pradesh promote conservation education and wildlife tourism. There is one Safari Park in UP- Etawah Safari Park. It is a drive-through safari park spread over 350 hectares. It was inaugurated and opened to the public in November 2019. It includes lion, deer, antelope, bear, leopard safaris. It is home to Asiatic lion breeding centres with multiple dens. It has around 260 animals recorded by March 2023. There are several facilities for visitors including: Multimedia museum, 4D education theatre, interpretation centre which enhances wildlife awareness and eco-tourism in central UP.

Ramsar Sites in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has diverse Ramsar sites including river stretches, oxbow lakes and bird sanctuaries that conserve wetlands, sustain migratory birds and maintain ecological balance across the Ganga basin. There are total 10 recognised Ramsar Sites in Uttar Pradesh:

• Upper Ganga River: River stretch conserving dolphins, fish diversity and floodplain ecology.
• Haiderpur Wetland: Ganga linked wetland supporting migratory waterbirds and marsh species.
• Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary: Largest natural floodplain wetland in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• Sur Sarovar: Lake near Agra known for winter migratory birds.
• Samaspur Bird Sanctuary: Perennial wetland hosting thousands of migratory birds annually.
• Saman Bird Sanctuary: Seasonal oxbow lake supporting breeding and wintering birds.
• Sandi Bird Sanctuary: Freshwater wetland providing habitat to rare waterfowl.
• Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary: Managed wetland near Lucknow supporting diverse birdlife.
• Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary: Twin oxbow lakes crucial for migratory bird conservation.
• Sarsai Nawar Jheel: Shallow wetland important for sarus crane habitat.